Where is the waiting room?
sa-la di at-TE-sa — stress on 'te'. 'Attesa' = waiting (from 'attendere').
Ask when you need to wait for test results, to see a doctor, or while accompanying a patient.
'Sala di attesa' = waiting room (literally 'room of waiting'). Also called 'sala aspetti'. In Italian hospitals, there are often multiple waiting rooms for different departments. After triage, you will be directed to the appropriate waiting area. 'Quanto devo aspettare?' (how long do I have to wait?) is the natural follow-up question.
Dove posso aspettare per il mio familiare?
Where can I wait for my family member?
Family members often have separate waiting areas from patients in Italian hospitals
Posso uscire un momento e tornare?
Can I step out for a moment and come back?
Ask before leaving the waiting area — they may call your number
Chiamano per nome o per numero?
Do they call by name or by number?
Italian hospitals use both systems — confirm to avoid missing your turn
Italian hospital waiting rooms vary widely in comfort — large city hospitals have modern facilities while smaller regional hospitals may be more basic. Family members are generally allowed to wait with patients in most Italian A&E departments. Italian hospitals have progressively reduced visiting hours during and after COVID-19. Hospital bars ('bar ospedaliero') are a very Italian institution — many have excellent coffee and pastries.