Healthcare staffing shortages impact Marche Community Houses

The implementation of new 'Case di Comunità' (Community Houses) in the Marche region faces significant challenges due to critical staffing shortages. While these facilities, funded by the PNRR, are operational, they lack the necessary personnel to fulfill their primary mandate: strengthening territorial healthcare, improving access to services, and reducing unnecessary emergency room visits.

Reports indicate that services in HUB-classified Community Houses are often partial or non-operational during weekends and holidays. In many instances, nurses are left working alone without consistent support from medical staff. To address this, there is an urgent call to increase the number of family and community nurses through improved regional training and staffing allocations.

Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact on home-based care. As focus shifts toward new territorial structures, there is a risk of neglecting the essential network of nurses who provide assistance to the elderly and chronically ill within their homes. Experts suggest that strengthening the national health service must not come at the expense of home care continuity, which relies on a mix of public, private, and cooperative professional services.