The news arrives on Christmas Eve, just as the mayor of Iglesias Mauro Usai was preparing to spend the holidays, in protest, in the Cto hospital left without specialists: three new anesthetists arrive, the Surgery department may be reopened. "We have won our battle," exults the mayor as he leaves the CTO.
Victory
Until late yesterday afternoon, Usai, who had symbolically occupied the hospital unit due to the interruption of the surgical block, was ready to spend Christmas inside the tent placed near the pre-triage: "I don't move from here until the functionality of the interrupted service will be guaranteed ".
The mayor of Iglesias was preparing to spend the third night in the premises of the Cto when the revocation of the provision signed by the director of Uoc Anesthesia and Reanimation, Aldo Clemenza, arrived around 18.30. The anesthetists arrive and the mayor can dismantle the tent.
The torchlight procession
In solidarity with the mayor, various associations and trade unions had organized a protest torchlight procession aimed at highlighting the criticalities of a territorial public health system that had never before been decimated in recent times by the absence of specialist personnel and the interruption of services. The demonstration, which started from Piazza Sella at 6 pm, arrived near the Cto hospital. The protest whistles of the several thousand participants turned into applause of jubilation at the news of the resumption of the Surgery service.
«This is an extraordinary result - commented Mauro Usai warmly - it is the testimony of the great work that the territories can do when they are united. It was a very hard battle: I hope that it will no longer have to happen that a mayor is forced to occupy the lobby of a hospital to obtain the right to health for their citizens. You don't have to go to staff retirement to replace them, you need planning ».
The situation
In order to guarantee the Surgery service, the consent of some specialists willing to guarantee additional services was required. The signed consent arrived in the hands of the regional councilor of the Lega Michele Ennas, who started the procedure for the revocation of the suspension measure.
Ennas' interlocutory work brought the hoped-for results: «I sent the mayor Usai the provision to restore the activities. This is a result of great value, characterized by hectic days and various attempts at resolution - confessed Ennas - the work does not end here, because there is still much to be resolved, this is only the first step taken and successful to make so that Iglesias and its citizens have the certainty of the continuity of the right to health ».
The region
Last Wednesday in a note sent to hospitals, following the meeting with the commissioners, the councilor for health Mario Nieddu had given instructions so that the Cto d'Iglesias hospital could count on the support of anesthesiologists and orthopedists The Aou of Cagliari and Arnas del Brotzu: "The need to strengthen the Iglesias hospital was also underlined - said Nieddu - the support of the doctors of the Cagliari hospitals will make it possible to guarantee activity 24 hours a day. 24. The Cto is an important hospital not only for the whole of Southern Sardinia and there is a firm will and commitment to give answers ».
The long-awaited additional services have arrived and for the moment the Iglesias Cto can still count on the Surgery service. Good news before Christmas.
Adriano Secci