Italian hospitals demand staff boosts and equipment upgrades
A patient at Santa Rosa Hospital in Viterbo wrote an open letter praising the dedication of doctors, nurses and support staff while warning that the cardiology department’s facilities and equipment are outdated and in urgent need of renewal. He highlighted obsolete portable electrocardiographs held together with tape and called for investment in maintenance and new technology.
Separately, Floriana Cascio, president of a regional health commission, criticised the chronic shortage of medical personnel at Vittorio Emanuele Hospital in Caposoprano. She argued that the three newly hired neurologists are insufficient to launch a Level‑I stroke unit and that the emergency department remains severely understaffed, despite public statements on social media about new hires. Cascio urged the health agency to expedite the hiring process to ensure round‑the‑clock coverage.
Both reports underscore persistent staffing gaps and aging infrastructure in Italy’s public hospitals, calling for immediate administrative action.