Sit-in by doctors, nurses and healthcare workers in Sassari to protest against the shortcomings of the healthcare system in north-west Sardinia , starting with the overcrowding of hospital wards.

Called to demonstrate by the three trade unions Fp Cgil, Cisl Fp Sassari and Uil Fpl, the health workers gathered in front of the Santissima Annunziata hospital. A sit-in that is also an ultimatum addressed to the managers of Asl 1 and Aou and to the Region: the last protest before a general strike.

The list of problems is almost endless but at the top of the list is overcrowding in hospital wards, with dozens of patients forced to be admitted on stretchers , crammed between beds or propped up in corridors.

"On several occasions we have tried to raise awareness and urge the company management and political representatives of our territory, so that the problem of overcrowding is addressed and fought with extraordinary measures, starting with the strengthening and implementation of staff, in order to better manage the phenomenon", say the territorial secretaries of the unions, Toto Terrosu and Cinzia Tomagra (Fp Cgil), Antonio Monni and Gianmario Sardu (Cisl Fp), Mariangela Campus and Pierrette Murgia (Uil Fpl). "At the same time we have often underlined that urgent political and managerial choices and decisions are needed to create and identify new beds in dedicated facilities such as community hospitals , in order to limit the polarization of assistance on the Sassari hub and therefore better direct the health needs in the territory".

The main requests are collected in four points : immediate strengthening of the health personnel , to deal with the growing number of patients and guarantee acceptable waiting times and dignified care; urgent structural interventions and reorganization of spaces , that is, allocating resources for the improvement of hospital infrastructures, so as to avoid that patients are forced to share overcrowded and inadequate spaces, compromising the quality of care, safety and privacy; immediate opening of territorial structures such as community hospitals to facilitate hospital discharges ; guarantee of a safe and dignified working environment for health and social health workers, because the staff must be able to work in adequate conditions, without being constantly under pressure and in conditions of extreme stress.

"The union will not accept in any way that the citizens' right to health is further compromised by inefficient management and political choices that do not protect patients or workers. An immediate change of direction is essential to guarantee the right to health and the safety of staff", conclude the union secretariats.

(Online Union)

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