Another attack on staff at the San Martino Hospital in Oristano . In recent days, a pediatrician was insulted and grabbed by the parents of a little girl who complained about excessive wait times . "This is a very serious act and an intolerable sign of incivility, which we firmly condemn and which we are making public precisely to highlight the escalation of violence targeting healthcare workers, who are working to protect the health of those who attack them," said Federico Argiolas, Special Commissioner of the Oristano Local Health Authority.
After the incident in recent weeks, which involved the Psychiatry staff, this time the problems occurred in the Pediatrics ward. The incident dates back to last Friday, when a couple accompanied their daughter to the Emergency Room. During triage, the little girl was assigned a green code , and then she arrived in the Pediatrics ward. There, the staff explained to the family that the doctor on duty was dealing with a particularly urgent and complicated case, so the appointment (which, being a green code, was not urgent) would require a certain wait . When the doctor was free, he went to the waiting room, where the family members railed against the Pediatrics staff for the wait. When the doctor invited them to come to the examination room, they not only refused, but pushed the doctor and left the ward without even checking the little girl .
"In expressing our solidarity with the doctor who was attacked and the nursing staff in the Pediatrics ward who were verbally abused," says Commissioner Federico Argiolas , "we urge patients and their families to always maintain a respectful attitude toward healthcare workers. In carrying out demanding, demanding, and delicate work, they require a calm atmosphere that allows for building a relationship of trust with the patient, which is the foundation of any treatment." The Local Health Authority also reminds that suggestions for improving care or reports of any deficiencies must always be made in a civil manner and, if possible, formally addressed to the Public Relations Office.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident, especially since our department places a special emphasis on welcoming and caring for the emotional well-being of children and their families," says Enrica Paderi, Director of the Pediatrics Department. "Our staff, who work tirelessly every day to ensure the health of our young patients, are often forced to provide basic pediatric care during this time, due to the shortage of private pediatricians in the area. This increases the burden and, of course, leads to longer wait times . We work hard every day to provide quality care to children, and we are naturally able to prioritize when multiple cases arise at once," concludes Dr. Paderi. "We ask our patients for their trust and understanding in the event of long waits, because only in a calm environment can we work at our best, in the best interests of our patients."