Just over a year ago there wasn't even a neurology service at San Martino di Oristano. Today, however, the structure hosts a Day Hospital service, in the premises of the Medicine department. And in a few months, the hospital will have a dedicated department. «An important result for our healthcare company which is part of the main implementation actions of the services and departments of the San Martino hospital implemented by this general management», explained the general director of ASL 5, Dr. Angelo Maria Serusi .

The new service was presented this morning: «With the arrival of two new neurologists we have now been able to activate the day hospital for patients suffering from neurological pathologies. We will mainly deal with patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, but not only. We will also take care of patients with peripheral neuropathies and myasthenia", underlined Dr. Bastianino Murgia, director of the Complex Neurology Structure . Then the clarification: «This new beginning represents a fundamental step in the realization of a medium-long term project for the global care of the neurological patient. It will allow patients to receive the appropriate treatments in their territory without the obligation to turn to other regional facilities. The start of the activity will clearly be gradual with the aim of bringing it up to speed in the shortest possible time. This is linked both to the potentially high number of patients to be treated and to the complexity of the treatments implemented. It is enough to remember that in the 80s and 90s there were 3 to 5 treatments available, while today we are faced with 15-20 therapeutic lines, which increasingly allow for tailor-made treatment for each patient."

A year ago, doctors only had a few clinics available dedicated to epilepsy, movement disorders and Dopler ultrasound. «With my arrival in May 2022, I increased the number of clinics and expanded the services offered to patients with the management of three technical beds in the medical area. The two new neurologists, in addition to the opening of the Day Hospital, allow us to bring the number of five technical beds and to open two new clinics, one general and one dedicated to headaches", Dr. Murgia further recalled.

Important services in particular for those suffering from multiple sclerosis, a pathology which in Sardinia records record numbers compared to other Italian regions. There are 7 thousand Sardinians affected by the disease, 400 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants compared to the national average of 198 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants and an incidence of the disease of 12 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants, double the national average of 6 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. This means that 180 new diagnoses of multiple sclerosis are recorded on the island every year. «Numbers destined to grow, given that the mortality rate for these patients is fortunately low», explains Murgia. In the Oristano area just under 700 citizens are affected by this pathology, which unfortunately does not spare any internal area or any town, even the smallest ones.

«We are very satisfied with the opening of this service, a first goal for which I have been active since I took office in 2018», stated the expiring commissioner of the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association of Oristano Achille Foggetto, national councilor of the Aism and contact person for Sardinia of the same association. «Finally – continues Foggetto – in the Corporate Act approved by this general management of the Oristano Local Health Authority, multiple sclerosis has been included among the pathologies which must be treated in local health centers. Multiple sclerosis is a complex pathology and for patients in the Oristano area, receiving healthcare services in the area is a first great result."

«Within the first months of 2024 – assured the health director Antonio Maria Pinna – we will also be able to start an independent neurology department within the San Martino hospital. It will be another important milestone, which testifies to the constant attention and constant commitment of this general management to strengthening the services of the city hospital itself."

(Unioneonline/vf)

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