Visiting a specialist has become nearly impossible for many patients in Macomer and the surrounding area. Two months ago, a patient from Macomer had booked a contrast X-ray at the CUP. There were no available spots in Macomer, Nuoro, Oristano, Bosa, Ghilarza, or even in Sassari and Alghero. The only available spot was in Tempio. The patient reluctantly accepted this solution. The alternative was to wait months, perhaps even years.
Following the instructions given to him at the CUP, the man armed himself with patience and resignation. He then set off early in his car, heading to the Gallura capital, to arrive promptly at the scheduled time for the appointment. After traveling more than one hundred kilometers, on winding roads with numerous curves, he arrived at the Tempio hospital in about an hour and a half. He stood in line to pay his ticket, but when it was his turn, he was greeted with a bitter surprise: that type of test is absolutely not performed in Tempio, because the facility lacks the appropriate equipment.
What to do? He had to return to the Macomer CUP and get a transfer to another facility. So he got back in his car and drove over 100 kilometers back home. Filling up the tank was expensive, considering the time it took. The only saving was the ticket, which fortunately wasn't paid online.
A diabetic, also from Macomer, had booked two specialist appointments last January. The first was in Oristano (angiology) at the Community House of the outpatient clinic on Via Michele Pira. The appointment was scheduled for July 10th. On the day of the appointment, the outpatient clinic called. The appointment was postponed due to the doctor's unavailability. "We'll call you back to schedule a new appointment." The call never came.
The second, a cardiology appointment scheduled by the Macomer CUP for Monday, August 27th, at the Bosa outpatient clinic, was canceled due to the doctor's unavailability. No other date has been scheduled. Other similar cases have occurred in Macomer and patients from other towns in the Marghine area. The Macomer health district has not apologized.
