The Brotzu Exodus: Dozens of Nurses Resign En masse

Early 2026, a flight from Brotzu. Thirty-five nurses, two healthcare assistants, four administrative assistants, a radiology technician, and a perfusionist are leaving (or have just left): 43 employees in total are leaving Arnas for other shores.

The numbers of the (mini) diaspora are reported in a resolution from the company's Human Resources director, Maria Teresa Garau. This acknowledges a long series of resignations that have varying effective dates but will take effect by February at the latest.

This is a blow, and it may not be the only one, for a hospital where staffing is reportedly understaffed and where emergencies are the order of the day. Just consider the unions' reports about the emergency experienced in recent days in Medicine 1, where patients were placed on stretchers in the corridors: "The nursing staff is significantly below the minimum requirements and accreditations: the nurse-to-patient ratio often amounts to one nurse for every 14-15 patients."

Now, with the resignations, barring any new hires in the short term, the situation can only get worse: "And we've been raising this issue for some time," explains Fabrizio Anedda, provincial secretary of the Cagliari NurSind. "Such a high number of resignations are linked to the competitive examinations that allowed for transfers to other companies." Those leaving Brotzu aren't left stranded. Among those leaving are those who had fixed-term contracts at Arnas and now have full-time contracts, perhaps at the ASL (Local Health Authority): "But there are also those who already had permanent contracts and are finding better working conditions elsewhere. Not like the ones we've been talking about for some time at Brotzu. Where the salary adjustment process has also stalled. At a certain point, you have to take stock and make decisions."

As, according to leaks, some doctors have also done, who recently decided to leave Piazzale Ricchi.