Desenzano Hospital Improves Services Despite Budget Projections

The hospital company of Desenzano del Garda is increasing its performance levels and the services offered. This means that the data regarding the budget—such as the projections for the financial situation in the year 2000, which could indicate an estimated deficit of 28 billion lira—do not affect the services at all. In fact, the opposite is true. The same general director, Dr. Angelo Foschini, clarifies the company’s situation, stepping forward to shed light after news from the City Council discussion about an inquiry signed by councilor Rodolfo Bertoni of the Democrats of the Left (Ds).

Company Data and Figures

Let’s now examine the company’s data, which primarily serves the areas formerly covered by USL 17 of Salò and 19 of Leno. The organization serves a population of 307,246 inhabitants, about one-third of the entire province’s population. It comprises six hospitals: Desenzano, Lonato, Gavardo, Salò, Manerbio, and Leno.

There are 34 management departments, 34 services, 7 intensive care units, 7 outpatient clinics, and 1,088 beds. In 1999, the hospital facilities within the company recorded 55,000 hospitalizations in ordinary regimes, representing 20% of the provincial total.

Service Statistics

“Well,” explains Dr. Alfonso Castellani, “the company has not only not reduced services as some claim, but has actually increased them. In fact, the number of inpatient procedures in the first quarter of 2000 increased by 8.2% compared to 1999, while outpatient procedures increased by over 7%.”

Furthermore, “the company has also strengthened,” says Dr. Foschini, “the emergency and urgent care sectors, which are vital for the tourism zone of Garda. The service in Gargnano has been activated, where 24-hour services are provided through an ambulance with a permanent doctor on duty, and a first aid station has been opened in Salò. There are concrete promises that these can remain operational throughout the year.”

In short, there have been no reductions in services by the company. It should also be clarified that the decrease in home care services for geriatric and oncological patients in the Desenzano district—mentioned in Councilor Bertoni’s inquiry (Democratic Party of the Left)—belongs to another organization, ASL Brescia.

Financials and Projections

Now, regarding the finances. “The budget data,” emphasizes Dr. Foschini, “are easily interpretable. In 1998, the organization closed with costs of 259.313 billion lira and revenues of 255.355 billion, resulting in a deficit of 3.958 billion. The 1999 budget should close very close to break-even.”

“For 2000,” he continues, “I made a projection during a union meeting that could lead to a deficit of approximately 28 billion. Nearly 50% of this is due to increased labor costs from the implementation of the new contract. The remaining difference may be caused by insufficient coverage from the State for two chapters—the psychiatric service and the rebalancing fund—as well as some minor items.”

“Today,” concluded the administrative and health manager, “we learned that there will be full coverage of the costs of some heavily loss-making interventions, such as psychiatric care. In this respect, in the letter sent to the City of Desenzano, I hinted that the deficit, which is the result—highlighted here—of a projection, could be less significant.”