Il 54% degli ospedali gravi irregolarità

Workplace injuries among nurses and healthcare professionals up by 21%: a neglected emergency

The phenomenon of workplace injuries among nurses and health professionals is showing a worrying increase of 21%, with a significant share linked to physical assaults by patients or family members. The seriousness of the situation is confirmed by an investigation conducted by the Carabinieri NAS on behalf of the Ministry of Health: over 54% of the 321 public hospitals inspected show serious irregularities.

This is a reality that unfortunately does not surprise. The union Nursing Up, for years at the forefront in denouncing the critical conditions in which healthcare professionals operate, has collected and reported hundreds of episodes that testify to an alarming organizational picture.

A collapsing healthcare system

The staff shortage affects over 90% of Italian hospitals, while more than 70% of healthcare companies have serious organizational shortcomings. Already in March 2022, data on reported injuries in the health and social care sector showed an increase of 110.4% compared to the previous year. Since then, nothing has changed in terms of prevention and safety.

Women are the most affected in the sector, as shown by INAIL data:

Also noteworthy is the increase in fatal injuries not related to Covid-19, up by almost 10%, both for commuting accidents and those at the workplace. This raises a disturbing question: how much does chronic fatigue affect the lowering of attention and safety thresholds?

Ineffective measures

In an attempt to improve prevention, on August 2, 2022 an agreement was signed between INAIL and the National Labor Inspectorate for the establishment of the National Information System for Prevention in Workplaces (SINP). The goal: to share information on companies, injuries, occupational diseases, and inspections. However, concrete results are slow to arrive. Injuries continue to rise and working conditions remain unsustainable.

The Nursing Up, in numerous official communications to Prefectures, Regions, and the press, has repeatedly warned that the combination of gruelling shifts, missed rest periods, and unused holidays would inevitably lead to an escalation of injuries and occupational diseases.

A necessary change, but still hindered

In Emilia Romagna, the union Nursing Up has not yet reached the 51% threshold of representativeness needed to really make an impact and decisively reform the Regional Health Service. Unfortunately, many professionals continue to rely on union organizations that have been promising changes for years without delivering. A reality that is not measured by words, but by the working conditions and pay slip of every nurse.