Brotzu is packed. Occupancy in some departments exceeds 100%, so sometimes patients are left on stretchers in the corridors, in makeshift corners created behind screens, waiting for someone to be discharged and a place to become available.
The situation
"We are overbooked," warns Luigi Mascia, regional secretary of the Cimo union, "Medicine, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics are suffering a lot. Unfortunately, all they do is close services, and then everything spills over to Cagliari. The same goes for Sassari."
The peripheral garrisons
"The peripherals are in great difficulty", continues Dr. Mascia, "for example, Isili at the moment has only 3 doctors in the Medicine department, and soon one will retire. Muravera ditto, has a very small number of white coats, in Carbonia Neurology has closed. It is clear that everything flows to us. And in the summer the emergency amplifies, because of this terrible heat wave we have many hospitalized for illnesses. Therefore, it happens to see beds in the hallways, there is no alternative".
The numbers
The system has been losing pieces for a long time. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Health, in the last ten years Sardinia has lost four hospital facilities, many departments here and there, 332 general practitioners, in addition to tens of thousands of services. According to the union, 800 beds for acute care are missing.