Anger is mounting in the Comino Valley over healthcare: the reorganisation plan has once again severely penalised the valley with the closure of the long-stay ward and, according to the latest reports, the 118 emergency service station as well. In short, the plan put forward by the Regional President, Renata Polverini, has not gone down well at all with the mayors and residents of the Comino Valley. Indeed, protests are mounting and tomorrow morning at 9 am there will be a public meeting in front of the hospital in the presence of all the mayors of the area and local residents. A meeting open to all, at which the forms of protest to be organised will be decided. A harsh wake-up call for the Valcomino, which had pinned great hopes on the fulfilment of election promises.
«We have already paid a heavy price in the past for the various reorganisations, which have led to the gradual decline of our local area,» said Mayor Fausto Lancia. “Over time, we have lost key services, and up until now the local community has shown great maturity. Now, however, we are truly fed up with yet another cut that affects us directly. We disagree with the timing. For us, the restructuring being discussed must come before the closure. And on this point, we are not prepared to back down. Another important issue is the 118 emergency service. At first, there were rumours that the on-board doctor would be removed. Then it was even said that the station would be closed. This would be a huge blow to our area. In short, we are to be left to die without any chance of receiving treatment. A person suffering a heart attack in San Biagio Saracinisco does not have the same chance of survival as someone in Rome. As far as we are concerned, we are prepared to take even the most extreme forms of protest. This is not a matter of political affiliation. We pay our taxes and are entitled to a healthcare system worthy of the name without having to leave the area, and above all, we are all entitled to prompt and competent medical assistance. We agree that healthcare needs to be rationalised – concludes the mayor of Atina – but not at the expense of the 24,000 inhabitants of our valley. We cannot allow ourselves to be treated this way.”.
The Province
Marta Di Cocco
