Italian health unions expose child care failures in hospitals

In Campania, a 15‑year‑old with a severe arm fracture was moved between five hospitals over several hours before receiving proper treatment. The Nursind union in Salerno denounced the episode as “distressing,” citing a lack of an orthopaedic specialist, the refusal of the Santobono paediatric hospital to admit a 15‑year‑old, and inadequate coordination among emergency services. The union has asked regional health authorities, the 118 emergency centre and the local prosecutor to investigate possible organisational failures.

In Sardinia, unions representing hospital staff have criticised the Microcitemico hospital’s paediatric neuropsychiatric unit and other departments for unsafe and inadequate conditions. Cisl, Fials and Usb highlighted missing equipment, faulty security systems, insufficient staffing and non‑compliant facilities, demanding an urgent meeting with ARNAS management to address the problems and ensure patient safety.