In recent days, two young men, seasonal workers and non-residents, apparently under the influence of alcohol, caused tension at the Paolo Merlo Hospital in La Maddalena. They allegedly harassed, threatened, and insulted healthcare workers and emergency room security staff. The incident apparently erupted after they noticed a woman who had accompanied a relative and was asking to enter the facility: in their opinion, the staff should have allowed her. Convinced they were acting as "champions," the two men persisted, apparently aggressively, necessitating the intervention of the Carabinieri, who were alerted several times by the emergency number 112. Both men are facing charges of disruption of public service and threats against public officials.
Similar incidents, though not particularly frequent on La Maddalena, have occurred in the past, especially during the summer months, when the island experiences a heavy influx of tourists, and with people under the influence of alcohol or drugs creating tension in sensitive environments like the emergency room. It's worth noting, however, that the Paolo Merlo hospital does not have a waiting room for relatives: those accompanying a patient must wait outside, under a shelter without doors or windows, exposed to the heat, cold, or wind. This structural flaw further complicates already delicate situations.