Lines of ambulances, few volunteers, and emergency medical services organizations on the warpath: "The agreement is inadequate."

They had loudly demanded a new agreement and the allocation of an additional €5 million, promised for years but never disbursed . But the Region, with the stability law, extended the existing agreement until the end of 2027.

The 118 volunteer associations are on the warpath , struggling with a chronic lack of volunteers and the constant emergency in emergency rooms , which often forces ambulances to wait for hours in line in front of Sardinian hospitals.

"Answers are needed regarding the future" of an increasingly at-risk service , emphasize Anpas, Avis and Misericordie, who have called together all the associations affiliated with Areus for an "urgent" discussion on the emergency-urgent system.

The meeting has been called for Thursday, April 23, at 4 p.m. in Oristano.

At the heart of the debate, the press release states, are "the critical issues with the service and future prospects," in a future characterized by "significant regulatory and organizational uncertainties." The associations are targeting the agreement : they were requesting a new one, but the Region has extended the existing one, which no longer covers the needs of those who are key to ensuring the continuity of the 118 service in Sardinia and is "non-compliant" with the Third Sector Code .

The aim of the meeting is to "take stock of the situation, share the main
critical issues and define a common position of the Sardinian healthcare volunteers in order to identify
shared solutions and ensure continuity and effectiveness of an essential service for citizens."

A service that's increasingly difficult to provide and can't be sustained by ever-decreasing numbers of volunteers. This is due to the enormous responsibilities and a dysfunctional system that forces volunteers to spend entire shifts stuck in ambulances or waiting in line at emergency rooms, without a real chance of helping anyone.

Essentially, we need professional, adequately paid first responders. Otherwise, the already strained service risks collapse.

(Unioneonline)