Italian emergency departments face overcrowding and staffing shortages

Emergency departments in Italy are facing significant pressure due to increased patient volumes and staffing shortages. In Soverato, the hospital is struggling with a surge in demand, particularly during the summer months. The local population has increased significantly, and the closure of emergency services in Chiaravalle and Serra San Bruno has forced more patients to seek care in Soverato.

Patients in Soverato have reported long waiting times and expressed dissatisfaction with the triage process. There is a noted shortage of doctors and nurses to manage the influx of patients.

In Terni, the Santa Maria hospital has reported a substantial rise in emergency room visits, with 300 more admissions recorded so far this year compared to the same period in 2025. During a recent week in August, the facility handled 770 accesses, including 32 red-code emergency cases. The hospital has had to activate emergency protocols, such as the internal emergency plan (Peimaf), to manage mass casualty incidents resulting from serious road accidents and other emergencies.