Although it has already been certified in Rome, the Calabrian hospital network is still a work in progress. Surgical modifications are still being made in recent days with the aim, above all, of finding out the objections raised during the last review roundtable interministerial.
Work in progress
A new time window that will allow, among other things, to insert when reviewing the document further corrections to rebalance the distribution of beds in those territorial areas that gravitate around the new hospitals being built. The reassurances come directly from the commissioner ad acta, Roberto Occhiuto, which in response to a letter sent in recent days by the extraordinary commissioner of the ASP of Vibo Valentia, Antonio Battistini, confirms the introduction of new changes to the hospital network launched on 26 March.
The guarantee clause
The tweaks will mainly concern the assignment of additional beds in the spokes falling within the areas of competence of the three new hospitals in Vibo Valentia, Palmi and Sibaritide including, furthermore, a clause guaranteeing the permanence of the safeguards even in a period following the commissioning of the new healthcare facilities.
The fate of the internal areas
The request for clarification forwarded by the commissioner of the ASP of Vibo Valentia concerns first of all the fate of the Serra San Bruno hospital following the complaints raised by local communities concerned by future loss of health facilities in a mountain area crossed by a road system that is not exactly easy, on the contrary.
Hospitals at risk
But the note also provides reassurances for all the other hospitals so far potentially at risk of closure due to the construction of the three new hospitals. And, therefore, those of Vibo Valentia and Tropea to remain in the province, but also Polistena and Gioia Tauro in Reggino and Rossano and Corigliano in Cosentino.
Ex post verification
The clause included in the new hospital planning – which will replace the recently approved document – provides, in fact, an ex post verification. The facilities will become the subject of a re-evaluation to understand the role they can continue to play subsequently and compatibly with the birth of the three new hospital centres. In the meantime, however, compared to the previous decree, yes in some cases provides for an increase in beds.
New beds
For example, a Tropea for acute cases, hospitalizations go from 55 to 58; to Serra San Bruno the places for post-acute care are increasing (from 20 to 40, 25 are expected for acute care), to Vibo Valentia 163 beds planned. In Reggino then to the hospital Polistena 178 places are planned for acute care and 10 post-acute care; to Gioia Tauro 50 (acute) and 15 (post acute) respectively. While finally in Cosentino, at the hospital Corigliano And Rossano a total of 233 for acute and 20 for post-acute.
A role also for the “old” hospitals
The new revision «will thus recognize the essential role that individual hospital facilities play in the Calabrian hospital network” is the intention expressed by the commissioner structure “highlighting their importance as a point of reference for different medical specialties and their ability to provide an essential contribution to the well-being of local communities.” In the note then the final gloss: «Holding, contextually taking due account of territorial needs compared to a regional framework that requires overall and effective responses”.
