Riva del Garda Hospital Surgical Team Faces Staffing Shortage

One year ago, the surgical department of the Riva del Garda Civil Hospital was practically empty: instead of men and women dressed in the traditional emerald green suits, the operating rooms housed workers tasked with carrying out urgent modernization work on the outdated structure and systems.

Patients from the emergency room were therefore transferred to Rovereto. By the end of 1999, shortly after the appointment of the new chief surgeon, Dr. Francesco Ricci, the situation had normalized.

Characteristics of the Surgical Team

But never completely, because two surgeons were still missing from the team. Ricci’s reduced team (just four doctors including the chief surgeon) had to bear heavy workloads for months, with the only consolation that eventually new colleagues would join the staff.

So far, however, this has not yet happened, and as a year ago, almost all patients requiring surgical assistance are being cared for by specialists from Rovereto.

Current Situation in Riva

And in Riva? Currently, and as far as we know, there is only one surgeon on duty, who of course can do very little. The others will have to clear accumulated leave and days off.

Therefore, at the Riva hospital, in the brand-new operating rooms, neither scheduled nor emergency surgeries are being performed. Concerning the planned new hires, there has been no news from the search undertaken through the official listings announced by the Azienda Sanitaria.