TO Porto Empedocle, a sixty-year-old man lives in a desperate situation. After having had both legs amputated, he now finds himself “trapped” at the San Giovanni di Dio hospital in Agrigento, unable to reach the dialysis center in Villaggio Moses due to the lack of an adequate transport service.
This critical situation began when the voluntary association that assisted him ceased its transport service due to staff shortages.
Since Friday 14 June, the man has been hospitalized in the Medicine department, using a bed that may be needed for other patients.
Irene Alaimo, the man’s wife and his caregiver for over a decade, expresses her frustration: “We are like in prison,” she says. “We came with the 118 ambulance to do dialysis, but now we can’t go home anymore. We have been here in the hospital ever since.”
Despite the excellent care received from the doctors and nursing staff at the hospital, the couple finds themselves in an unsustainable situation.
The general director of the ASP of Agrigento, Giuseppe Capodieci, recognizes the problem: “We are trying to speed up the practice of stairlifts and solve the problem of authorizations for ambulances,” he explains. Meanwhile, the safety of a stair lift for a patient weighing 119 kilos is being evaluated.
Capodieci also contacted the voluntary association to urge them to resolve the staff shortage as soon as possible. If this is not possible, the association’s authorization may be revoked.
The patient, in the meantime, will be transferred to the long-term care department, where he will continue to receive the necessary assistance for dialysis.
This case highlights a significant challenge in the healthcare system and care services: ensuring that all patients, especially those with special needs, receive the care they need without disruption or complications.
