interviews: Sophie Renhuldt
In Trieste, the recent closure of services in the San Giacomo and San Giovanni clinics, coupled with the shutdown of childcare services in Valmaura, Roiano, and San Giovanni, has sparked concerns over a lack of community consultation and consideration.
The sudden closures, without prior communication to both staff and service users, have prompted inquiries to the Regional Council to shed light on the motivations, timelines, and plans to address the resulting service deficiencies in the affected areas.
This development has prompted three council inquiries related to public health, touching on issues beyond clinic closures. Of particular concern is the discontinuation of 24-hour services at the Mental Health Center on Via Gambini since 2021, raising questions about disparities in therapeutic treatment and patient care continuity. Inquiries seek to understand the reasons behind the delay in reinstating nighttime services.
Adding to the inquiries, there are growing concerns about the potential outsourcing of the blood sample collection service at Hospital Maggiore. Broader questions are arising regarding the intention to outsource various services affiliated with Hospital Maggiore, exploring a public-private partnership approach discussed by Arcs and Asugi. This includes an inquiry into the associated costs of these privatization operations.
At the core of the issue is a perceived trend toward divesting public services and an alleged lack of attention to local and timely healthcare by the public health system. Questions are emerging about the decision-making rationale and whether the majority in the regional government supports these choices.
