MODENA. «The personnel problem is another pandemic». Fresh from confirmation as general director of the Modena Local Health Authority, Anna Maria Petrini addressed an ever-current topic: the shortage of doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals in hospitals.
Petrini’s confirmation arrived yesterday together with the approval of the 2023 final budgets of both the Local Health Authority and the Polyclinic. “Despite the difficulties, we closed them at breakeven as in 2022,” said the general director.
The 2022 budget of the Local Health Authority prompted an intervention by the Court of Auditors, which found “serious critical issues”, requesting an intervention by the Region. Among the contested items is the use of cooperatives to deal with the shortage of doctors.
«The contribution of the cooperatives was integrative», reiterated Petrini, for which a “plan B” was not available. «The alternative was to suspend the service – added the general director – and obviously we don’t want to get to this point».
THE DIRECTOR’S POINT
The general director remarked that “contract calls are always open”, underlining that the ASL’s use of shift workers has decreased by sixty percent compared to two years ago.
However, as reiterated by Petrini, difficulties remain. «The path is not so immediate», he highlighted. The staff blanket remains short. «We have critical issues in Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Anesthesia – Petrini listed – We continue to have a shortage of professionals».
THE TIP OF AN ICEBERG
The current shortage would be like the tip of an iceberg of choices made in the past, the consequences of which are still being paid. «There is a commitment on the part of the company to gradually overcome all the critical issues – added Petrini – with the resources we find and the commitment of the entire provincial network, including the university. The commitment is to always give an answer to the citizens.”
The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia also means the university hospital (Aou) and therefore the Polyclinic. An agreement was signed between the two companies and the Sassuolo hospital to acquire specialists from the Polyclinic to be employed in low and medium criticality emergency emergency activities.
«There has been an effort to try to return with the availability that exists in the emergency room area – continued Petrini – Unfortunately, there are places in specialties that are not covered».
The general director wanted to thank the Emilia Romagna Region for having «integrated the funds and made up for the deficits» also in light of the actual pandemic. «Covid was a tsunami for everyone – observed Petrini – and made the population increasingly needy».
Petrini presented the mid-term report yesterday in the Province, home of the Territorial Social and Health Conference (CTSS). The report was approved by all the approved mayors with the only abstention of Mirandola. The same votes were recorded for the final balance sheets (therefore relating to 2023) of the two companies.
The AUSL recorded a profit of 12 thousand euros while spending on Aou staff grew by almost two million (one million and 960 thousand euros), reducing private healthcare services by 860 thousand euros.
