Sanità snobbata, la politica degli annunci

Nurses and midwives: the backbone of the NHS forgotten by the Financial Law funds

Italian healthcare is facing one of its most serious crises, with a chronic shortage of staff, especially nurses and midwives. Despite triumphant announcements and the figures released by the Ministry of Health, the funds allocated to the sector leave many doubts. We are talking about 880 million in the first year and 2.9 billion in the second, for a total of 3.7 billion. However, these funds, which were thought to be fully available for 2025, will instead be distributed over two years.

The Nursing Up Emilia Romagna is tired of this policy based only on announcements and calls on all professionals to unite to finally obtain the proper recognition for healthcare professions. Nurses and midwives must return to the center of the National Health Service (NHS), because without them the NHS as we know it would not exist.

As early as 2020, the Court of Auditors reported a shortage of 65,000 nurses. Today, that number has more than doubled, due to the flight of staff abroad and the refusal of young people to take up a profession that is increasingly difficult, risky, and not adequately paid. It is a problem that has been dragging on for decades, made even worse by continuous spending cuts and economic choices that have not given the right weight to the needs of the NHS. They try to save money with palliative solutions, such as hiring nurses from India or introducing new professional figures that do not meet real needs and risk only worsening the flight of staff already in service.

The Mediobanca Research Area highlighted that in 2022 Italy allocated only 6.8% of its GDP to healthcare, well below Spain (7.3%), the United Kingdom (9.3%), France (10.3%), and Germany (10.9%). This figure is alarming, especially considering the aging population and the growing demand for complex and prolonged care.

Despite the continuous announcements of funds and investments by politicians, in reality these funds never materialize effectively. The Nursing Up Emilia Romagna calls this policy of announcements disappointing. Nurses and midwives, central figures in the management of citizens' health, continue to be underpaid and overworked, with inevitable consequences on the quality of care.

The malaise among healthcare workers is now evident. The continuous unfulfilled promises have generated distrust and fatigue. Yet, without nurses and midwives, the NHS could not exist nor the golden salaries of managers and politicians.

Their role is essential not only from an economic point of view, but also for the well-being of the community. The Nursing Up Emilia Romagna, committed on the front line to improving the working conditions of nurses, will not stop until these professions are placed at the center of the healthcare system.

If we really want to talk about quality healthcare, the first step is to recognize the vital role of nurses and midwives. But words are not enough: concrete investments, adequate salaries, and a serious plan to fill the staff shortage are needed. The health of citizens is in their hands, and without them, the whole system risks collapsing.

We are waiting for you on November 20 in Rome for an unprecedented demonstration. Free buses will depart from every region. Let’s unite to make our voices heard!

Vincenzo Parisi