Alto Mantovano Hospital Faces Uncertain Future Amid Department Closures

“Currently, there is no danger of expanding the hospital, but the very survival of our healthcare facility is at risk.” The president of the committee for the preservation of hospital structures in Alto Mantovano, Luca Placidi, issues this warning after the latest committee meeting.

Many officials from various departments of San Pellegrino Hospital in Castiglione and representatives of the local political sphere participated in the meeting.

Workers’ Concerns and Official Statements

“There is great concern among the staff working within the hospital,” said Placidi. “This follows statements made by the general director of Carlo Poma Colombo. Contrary to what was expected, it appears that the survival of several departments, which still lack accreditation, is at risk, and consequently, the survival of the entire hospital.”

“We fought hard for the development of this hospital and to obtain funding for expansion,” continued Placidi. “Now, everything risks being thrown away.” On behalf of all the committee members, he requests a meeting, possibly during an open municipal council in Castiglione, with the director general Colombo. The committee would like to ask what actions he intends to take regarding the three-year health plan: “The three-year plan,” said Placidi, “is a regional law that cannot be drastically altered or ignored. What it contains, and for which we fought, must be upheld. We seek an opportunity for dialogue and clarification from Colombo.”

Future and Risks for the Hospital

The greatest concern for the municipality is the hospital’s functionality and its future: “There are some departments closed, like the coronary unit, which are shut down and inactive. What is the delay in restarting them? Or has the money spent on them been wasted?”

There is considerable worry because the accreditation of the Dea (Emergency Department) and other departments has not yet been achieved, and expanding the hospital is necessary to obtain it. Now it even appears that this is no longer a priority, and there is talk of the Asola hub, and of a private hospital in Volta.

There are rumors in Castiglione claiming that the hospital is operating at a loss and should, like a dead branch, be cut: “There are services that citizens cannot do without.”