A new strategy to address the shortage of healthcare personnel in the island's emergency rooms . The Region has launched a plan to address the emergency in view of February 28 , the expiration date of the contracts of so-called "payday" doctors employed on minor codes. The goal is to ensure the continuity of services while also promoting structured actions aimed at permanently strengthening staffing and ensuring the sustainability of the system.
Specifically, to cover "minor codes" (the less serious ones), starting March 1st, doctors already contracted for major codes will be employed, whose contracts are valid until June 30th. Management will be flexible: resources will be allocated within the various healthcare organizations based on actual needs at the time, thus avoiding closures or reductions in services.
And then there will be new hires as staffing increases. ARES (the Regional Health Agency) is ready to launch a public competition for the hiring of 44 medical directors specializing in emergency and urgent care. The goal is to complete the process quickly: about two months to have the new doctors on the wards by May.
"We are facing a real problem, which cannot be addressed with stopgap measures or simply by renewing emergency solutions," said Alessandra Todde, President of the Region and interim Health Councillor.
In addition to hiring, the Region is aiming to motivate existing staff. By February, the Regional Health Department will distribute the emergency room allowance, provided by the National Collective Bargaining Agreement (CCNL), among the healthcare companies for healthcare, nursing, technical, rehabilitation, and social care workers assigned to emergency services. The resources will cover the 2023, 2024, and 2025 financial years and, once the distribution is complete, will be promptly transferred to the companies for payment to eligible staff.
Finally, to prevent doctors' mobility from creating new gaps in the system, the Region will activate a single regional notification for freelance services. This move will ensure consistent responses across the island, preventing some areas from being left more vulnerable than others.
(Unioneonline)
