For the Region there is no reason why two pediatric cardiac surgery centers (Taormina and Palermo) cannot permanently coexist in Sicily as already happens in Veneto (in Padua and Verona). The operations of the pediatric cardiac surgery in Taormina (destined to close after the opening of the Palermo center) have currently been extended to 31 July 2024.
16 MAY – “In Sicily, two pediatric cardiac surgery centers can coexist permanently, as already happens in Veneto (in Padua and Verona) where the resident population is similar”. The Region supports this in the request for an exception to the “Balduzzi decree” sent to the Ministry of Health. Thus the department that has been active for over 10 years at San Vincenzo in Taormina would remain in operation, next to the new structure of the Civic Center of Palermo, maintaining its commitment to the families of the young patients.
The document, explains the Region in a note, it was signed by the President of the Region, the Councilor for Health and the general managers of the departments of Strategic Planning and Health Activities and the Epidemiological Observatory. The regional administration considers it “essential” to maintain the functionality of both structures of excellence, with public evidence procedures.
The operations of the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery of Taormina, currently in agreement with the Irccs Bambino Gesù of Rome, have currently been extended to 31 July 2024, at the request of the government of the Sicilian Region, and without the ministerial exemption it would be destined to cease.
Between July 2023 and March 2024, the regional note reports, 165 operations were performed in the Taormina facility on patients coming from Sicily and Calabria to which are added the 167 in the center of the capital, launched on 4 July 2023 in agreement with the San Donato of Milan: ” These are the data supporting the request which demonstrate the validity of the initiative and its sustainability to guarantee the operation of two pediatric cardiac surgery centres. In the two Veneto centres, according to the data included in the National Outcomes Programme, in 2022 there were 264 interventions (190 in Padua and 74 in Verona)”, explains the Region.
The hypothesis put forward to the Ministry, “which is part of the process of reviewing the hospital network already started by the Region”, also provides for “a strong operational connection between the Taormina department (8 beds) and that of Palermo (12 beds). Also in terms of financial resources – explains the Region – the healthcare companies to which the two centers belong have already foreseen specific resources in their budgets, as part of the relevant planning. Furthermore, the costs are intended for a gradual reduction and rationalization as a result of the addition of permanent staff specialists in cardiac surgery”.
Furthermore, the operation of two centers “would reduce healthcare mobility from Sicily and Calabria, with lower “social” costs linked to travel for the patients’ families, with, moreover, the prospect of a high quality healthcare offer also aimed at the countries of the Mediterranean basin, in order to preserve its sustainability also on a financial and economic level”.
May 16, 2024
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