Under proposed cuts, Abruzzo will see it's number of hospitals reduced from 22 to 9
The hospitals that will remain are:
Guilianova
Teramo
Pescara
L'Aquila
Chieti
Lanciano
Vasto
Avezzano
Sulmona
The proposed closure of the other hospitals is due to take place by 2012.
« ...quando c'è bisogno non solo di intelligenza agile e di spirito versatile ma di volontà ferma e di persistenza e di resistenza io mi sono detto a voce alta: tu sei abruzzese! »
Having - thankfully - had no experience of hospitals here, I'm amazed that there are currently 22 hospitals in Abruzzo. Will there be the sort of public outrage here that there always is in Britain whenever the NHS decides that they should shut second-rate, small, inefficient hospitals and concentrate care in a larger unit where patient numbers mean consultants actually get a chance to regularly practice procedures?
It certainly does concern me that our two nearest Pronto Soccorso units are proposed to be axed.
A 40 minute drive to nearest remaining one, is in my opinion not a good situation to be in.
« ...quando c'è bisogno non solo di intelligenza agile e di spirito versatile ma di volontà ferma e di persistenza e di resistenza io mi sono detto a voce alta: tu sei abruzzese! »
Not good news really as the roads take so long to get anywhere. I can understand for ops and appointments but not for emergencies. I guess it's Chieti for us now if we ever need accident & emergency and not a quick trip to Penne.
Do you know if any of the hospitals that are being shut actually are second-rate, small and/or inefficient?
Damn, I've been called to book for talking tosh yet again...
Uh, but wait a minute...
Did I actually say that any of the hospitals in Abruzzo that they want to close were any of those things?
I think you'll find that I did not.
What I did say was that I have no experience of hospitals here. It's a bit disappointing that you even bothered to take a shot at an open goal.
In fact, given that the population of Abruzzo is something like 1.3 million, if there are now 22 hospitals that means that there's one hospital for every 60,500 residents. As far as I can determine after a brief Googling session, there are something like 1,100 hospitals and clinics in the UK. That means there's one for every 50,000 residents on average (although I've not been able to determine how many of the 1,100 institutions are hospitals proper, and how many smaller, specialist units such as maternity facilities). Since I also came across an article suggesting that statistics show there are fewer hospital beds per capita in the UK than there are in most EU countries, perhaps it is the case that the people of Abruzzo have good cause to take to the streets in protest about the closures.
However, I have found it very strange to come across hospitals in what I consider to be very small towns here, and I have wondered about the standard of care offered in such places. Perhaps it's excellent not least because it's so personal, but it could also be the case that it's crap because of a shortage of resources due to a shortage of customers.
This if not a matter of strictly academic interest to us, of course. It can't be since we have a small child and the two of us are far from the first flush of our youth. The nearest hospitals to us are Teramo and L'Aquila and both of those are about 45 minutes (sane, non-Italian-style) driving away. There is, however, a small emergency medical facility about fifteen minute's drive away and my understanding is that there is a doctor available there most of the time. I assumed that something similar was available throughout the more remote parts of the province.
Personally, I'd rather be seen by a doctor who has lots of regular practice in dealing with whatever it is that happens to ail me at the moment rather than one who might have last seen a similar case months ago, so I'm happy to drive a bit to see an experienced medico. Emergency care is another matter, of course, and the main point then is to get seen by an emergency medical technician or doctor as soon as possible, but these days that sort of care can usually be provided on-site or in the back of a well-equipped ambulance as well as in an A&E department.
So what are the ambulances like here? Are they run on the now old-fashioned "scoop and run" principle, or are they staffed by well-qualified EMTs and equipped with all the high-tech paraphanalia you find in a British ambulance these days?
Well, I have sampled the care in several hospitals and I really can’t fault it. Even in the smaller hospitals the equipment has been modern although some of the buildings can be a bit shabby.
I don’t think you can really compare with hospitals in the UK because the population in Abruzzo is far more spread out and the infrastructure of roads is not the same. I also had a trip in an ambulance – it was a Red Cross ambulance – Again it seemed to be well equipped and staffed by very competent people. I don’t know whether they are volunteers but whatever; they do an excellent job.
Obviously this s a cost cutting exercise and it has been widely reported that the health service in Abruzzo is heavily overspent. It just seems a shame that well staffed and equipped hospitals, which meet the local need will have to close.
However it seems I have seen this all before when what were called ‘cottage hospitals’ closed all over England.
As for surgeons and health professionals I don’t think they are tied to one place. For example my occulista is in different hospitals and different practice offices on different days of the week and I am sure the doctors, consultants and surgeons also travel to other hospitals so I don’t think they have the opportunity to get ‘rusty’.
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Is there a list anywhere I can see showing the ones intended for closure? I know it means all the ones not on the 'saved' list, but sometimes you know of a particular clininc etc but are not sure where it is actually classed as in respect of location i.e. some towns/villages seem to run into each other.
As Ortona is not on the list of 9 I assume it is one to be shut, it is our closest accident centre and is used by a lot of locals for checkups and major ops. It will be a huge loss if it goes.
The Hospitals on the closure list are (roughly North to South)
Sant’Omero
Atri
Penne
Ortona
S. Valentino
Guardiagrele
Popoli
Atessa
Casoli
Pescina
Tagliacozzo
Gissi
Castel di Sangro
« ...quando c'è bisogno non solo di intelligenza agile e di spirito versatile ma di volontà ferma e di persistenza e di resistenza io mi sono detto a voce alta: tu sei abruzzese! »
I am somewhat disturbed to find that the hospital at Popoli is to close as that is the closest one to Ofena where we will be moving to next year. Other than that it will mean trekking to Pescara or L'Aquila.
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