MESSINA – The situation at the “G. University Hospital” Martino” of Messina “is critical”. The alarm was raised by Uil Fpl with a letter to the regional councilor for Health, Giovanna Volo, and to the director of Inspection and Supervision (also addressed for information to the extraordinary commissioner of the Santonocito hospital). The picture painted is that of a hospital in great difficulty, where the shortage of staff and working conditions risk seriously compromising healthcare. The letter was signed by Maurizio Celona, organizational secretary, and Livio Andronico, general secretary.
The recent councilor’s circular of 6 May 2024, which suspends all competition procedures except those for medical managers due to the upcoming European and administrative elections, would have “further aggravated an already precarious situation”. The letter highlights that the nursing staff and social-health workers (Oss) are insufficient, and this “not only puts the essential levels of assistance (Lea) at risk, but also causes a high level of stress among workers ”.
“In the infectious diseases department – say the unions – patients are forced to occupy beds beyond the capacity of the department, while the staff is reduced to a minimum. In the obstetric emergency room, the nursing staff is used improperly. The situation is also critical in the pediatric emergency room, where eight patients are hospitalized in spaces designed for three, without oxygen connections, with consequent inconvenience for both the children and the medical staff, who are already under pressure.”
The spotlight is therefore on neonatal and pediatric intensive care which “are no exception: hospitalizations beyond capacity, serious shortages of nursing staff and OSS are the order of the day. Another critical situation is that of the operating room, with the failure to activate 24-hour shifts despite exceeding the number of ready availability”.
Another problem would be represented by the demotion of nurses, “forced to carry out technical-hotel tasks due to the lack of 24-hour shifts for OSS staff. This situation has led many nurses to sue for financial compensation. The organization of the nursing office was further complicated by the healthcare management’s decision to establish an afternoon telephone reference.”
Consequently, the union calls for “planning and organization in the allocation of staff to address a climate of great discomfort and insecurity, both for workers and patients”. The trade unionists, represented by Maurizio Celona, (organizational secretary), and Livio Andronico (general secretary), also ask for immediate intervention from the regional councilor to resolve these critical issues and guarantee an adequate health service for the citizens of Messina.
“If concrete answers do not arrive within ten days” say the two trade unionists, “the trade union organization is ready to take sensational actions to protect the rights of workers and users of the Polyclinic”.
Contacted by us, the leaders of the Polyclinic do not intend to reply.
