Support doctors calling for healthcare reform
Reports of shifts lasting up to 32 hours, inadequate rest, insufficient supervision and doctors having to drive after prolonged duties are not issues that should be dismissed as a question of individual resilience. They are signs that our healthcare system needs reform.
Graziella Spiteri, executive member of Momentum, said, “Doctors need a system that protects their well-being while enabling them to provide safe, high-quality care that patients deserve. Better staffing, proper rest periods, adequate supervision, safe transport after long shifts and confidential access to mental health support must be part of that reform.”
Momentum has already proposed changes aimed at reducing pressure on our health system, including additional 24-hour regional health centres to reduce pressure on Mater Dei and bring healthcare services closer to communities. We have also proposed a more person-centred approach to healthcare and stronger support for services such as palliative care.
The Government needs to listen to the doctors raising these concerns and begin a serious process of healthcare reform, working with medical professionals and other healthcare workers to build a system that works both for patients and those who care for them.
Spiteri added, “We cannot expect healthcare professionals to keep carrying an unsustainable burden and then call it resilience. A healthy healthcare system must also care for the people who keep it running.
“It is also in the interests of hospital patients that the doctors attending to them are fully rested and not overworked.”
Momentum stands with Malta’s doctors and other healthcare professionals who are speaking openly about the pressures affecting their working conditions and mental health.
Appoġġ lit-tobba li qed jitolbu riforma fil-kura tas-saħħa
Rapporti ta’ xiftijiet li jdumu sa 32 siegħa, mistrieħ inadegwat, superviżjoni insuffiċjenti u tobba li jkollhom isuqu wara dmirijiet twal mhumiex affarijiet li għandhom jitqiesu biss bħala kwistjoni ta’ reżiljenza individwali. Huma sinjali li s-sistema tal-kura tas-saħħa tagħna teħtieġ riforma sinifikanti.
Graziella Spiteri, executive member of Momentum, said, “It-tobba jeħtieġu sistema li tipproteġi l-benesseri tagħhom filwaqt li tgħinhom jipprovdu kura tajba u ta’ kwalità għolja li jistħoqqilhom il-pazjenti. Staffing aħjar, perjodi ta’ mistrieħ xierqa, superviżjoni adegwata, trasport sikur wara xiftijiet twal u aċċess kunfidenzjali għal servizzi tas-saħħa mentali, għandhom ikunu parti minn dik ir-riforma.”
Momentum diġà ppropona bidliet immirati biex inaqqsu l-pressjoni fuq is-sistema tas-saħħa tagħna, inklużi iktar ċentri tas-saħħa reġjonali miftuħa 24 siegħa biex titnaqqas il-pressjoni fuq Mater Dei, u biex is-servizzi tal-kura tas-saħħa jitressqu eqreb lejn il-komunitajiet. Ipproponejna wkoll approċċ għall-kura tas-saħħa li jkun aktar iċċentrat fuq il-persuna, u appoġġ aktar b’saħħtu għal servizzi bħall-kura palljattiva.
Il-Gvern għandu jisma’ lit-tobba li jqajmu dawn it-tħassib u jibda proċess serju ta’ riforma fil-kura tas-saħħa, billi jaħdem ma’ professjonisti mediċi u ħaddiema oħra tal-kura tas-saħħa biex jibni sistema li taħdem kemm għall-pazjenti kif ukoll għal dawk li jieħdu ħsiebhom.
Spiteri żieded tgħid, “Ma nistgħux nistennew li l-professjonisti tal-kura tas-saħħa jibqgħu jġorru piż insostenibbli u mbagħad insejħulha reżiljenza. Sistema tal-kura tas-saħħa b’saħħitha trid tieħu ħsieb ukoll lin-nies li jħaddmuha.
“Huwa wkoll fl-interess tal-pazjenti tal-isptar li t-tobba li jieħdu ħsiebhom ikunu mistrieħa kompletament, u mhux imħaddma żżejjed.”
Momentum jappoġġja lit-tobba ta’ Malta u professjonisti oħra tal-kura tas-saħħa li qed jitkellmu bil-miftuħ dwar il-pressjonijiet li jaffettwaw il-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol u s-saħħa mentali tagħhom.
There is hope, you can help!
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