Rome’s San Giacomo Hospital to Reopen: What You Need to Know
The historic San Giacomo Hospital in Augusta, also known as the “Hospital of the Incurables,” located between Via del Corso and Via di Ripetta in the heart of Rome’s historic center, is set to officially reopen. Closed for 18 years since its decommissioning in 2008, the facility will be fully operational by 2029, with a potential optimistic completion by the end of 2028. This monumental project, costing 145 million euros, is spearheaded by the Lazio Region, with President Francesco Rocca announcing a “now irreversible process.”
Key Dates and Milestones
The reopening process has officially begun with the approval of a resolution by ASL Roma 1, initiating a 3.144 million euro tender for design. The subsequent steps will involve:
- Tender for Design: Currently underway, valued at 3.144 million euros.
- Project Award: Once the design tender is awarded, the next phase will be the tender for the actual construction.
- Construction Phase: Expected to take 24-30 months.
- Operational Date: Reasonably by 2029, with an optimistic target of late 2028.
What Services Will San Giacomo Offer?
The renovated San Giacomo will be a unique healthcare complex, integrating various services within its historic 14th-century structure. It will operate as:
- Community Hospital: Providing general medical care and services.
- Residential Health Care Facility (RSA): Offering assisted living and care for the elderly and those with chronic conditions.
- Long-Term Care Facility: Dedicated to patients requiring extended medical and rehabilitative support.
These services will complement those offered by other key hospitals in the area, including San Filippo Neri, Santo Spirito, and Oftalmico. This integration aims to create a more robust and accessible healthcare network in central Rome.
Staffing and Employment Opportunities
The new San Giacomo Hospital will require a significant workforce. It is anticipated that at least 300 professionals will be recruited, including nurses, doctors, and other healthcare personnel. Recruitment will follow specific guidelines for RSA and long-term care facilities, ensuring appropriate patient-to-staff ratios.
Projected Layout and Facilities
The project involves the refurbishment of five floors, each dedicated to specific functions:
- Basement Floor: Will house technological control centers, storage facilities, an operating block, and diagnostic imaging services.
- Ground Floor: Designed as the main reception area, featuring a large hall, a 300-square-meter conference room (seating approximately eighty people), outpatient clinics, a waiting area for diagnostic-therapeutic pathways, and dedicated women’s health services.
- First Floor: Will accommodate 80 beds for the community hospital and 16 dialysis stations.
- Second Floor: Dedicated to long-term care with 60 beds, primarily for the elderly and non-self-sufficient individuals with chronic conditions requiring physiotherapy and healthcare assistance, plus 8 hospice beds.
- Third Floor: Will include 20 RSA beds and other auxiliary services.
Safety and Environmental Standards
The redesign of San Giacomo will prioritize high-quality and environmental standards, ensuring both effective care and the safety and well-being of patients and staff. Key considerations include:
- Compliance with fire and seismic regulations.
- Optimized visual and acoustic comfort.
- Construction of external safety stairs.
- Demolition and reconstruction of internal stairs and elevators.
- Restoration of external facades, in agreement with the Superintendency for Architectural and Environmental Heritage.
This project represents a significant cultural shift, bringing public healthcare services that are currently almost exclusively provided by private entities back to the public domain. It is also expected to alleviate the burden on emergency rooms by providing dedicated outpatient services in the historic city center, thereby combating depopulation and desertification of the area.
Contact and Further Information
For more detailed information and updates regarding the San Giacomo Hospital project, residents are encouraged to monitor official announcements from the Lazio Region and ASL Roma 1.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_febbraio_05/roma-riapre-il-san-giacomo-ospedale-rsa-e-lungodegenza-ecco-come-sara-bf3f0869-9b8b-4c94-b7fe-fae2d4219xlk.shtml
