The article discusses the case of an 18-year-old boy from Rīga who broke his collarbone while playing sports. After sustaining the injury, he received immediate care at a local hospital where he underwent an X-ray and was stabilized with pain relief medication. However, due to the nature of the fracture, which was displaced and involved bone fragments, the attending physician suggested that surgery would be necessary and offered two options for treatment: continuing care at the current facility or being transferred to Rīga. The family chose to head to Rīga and proceeded to the Trauma and Orthopedics Hospital for further treatment.

The mother of the injured boy recounts their experience at the hospital in Rīga, highlighting the lengthy wait times in the emergency room. Upon arrival, they had to wait in line for about an hour and a half before being seen by a doctor. The standard procedure involved registration of the incident and an examination by the healthcare team. Following this, they were provided with medication recommendations and instructions to return the next day for further analysis and potential surgery, which was anticipated for Tuesday.

This incident sheds light on the current strain facing healthcare facilities in Latvia, particularly with the increase in cases related to ice injuries during the winter season. The influx of patients is prompting longer wait times and could potentially impact the quality of care provided in emergency situations, raising concerns among families about the accessibility of timely medical assistance during peak periods of demand.