Costa d’Amalfi Hospital faces critical medical staffing shortage

The Costa d’Amalfi Hospital in Castiglione di Ravello is facing a severe staffing crisis in its emergency department. Since its activation in 2001, the number of ward doctors has dropped from 12 to just 4 due to unreplaced retirements.

To maintain services, the health authority has had to recall retired physicians, a temporary measure that faces legal limits regarding age. The shortage has forced specialists to cover multiple roles; for example, the cardiologist on duty has been performing the duties of an internist for several years. Additionally, the position of a resuscitation doctor has been suspended for a decade, impacting patient safety during life-threatening emergencies.