Naples, hospitals under attack, how to protect those who care for us

Naples – The latest punch to the face came on September 22nd in the corridors of the Pellegrini Hospital in Naples, thrown by those who deemed the waiting room wait too long. It is yet another example of a daily emergency that transforms healthcare facilities into trenches. Protecting those who provide care is now the National Health System's top priority: a complex challenge that begins in Naples, where on October 5th and 6th the Aula Magna of the Federico II Biotechnology Center will host the 23rd National Congress OspedaleSicuroDuemila26.

The epidemic of violence: 18 cases in one year

The figures for 2025 paint a dramatic picture: nearly 18.000 incidents of aggression—physical or verbal—recorded in Italy, involving a total of 23.367 workers. Nurses paid the highest price, being the target of 55% of the attacks, followed by doctors (16%) and healthcare workers (11%).

Tension, fear, and long waits fuel citizens' anger, but the response cannot be left solely to chance or the courage of individuals. Clear protocols are needed: early warning systems, constant information for relatives, and procedures for recording threats before they escalate into physical violence.

Not just aggression: the burnout trap and invisible risks

Safety, however, isn't limited to fending off attacks. It inevitably involves managing fatigue. Night work, sleep disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea directly impact the reflexes and alertness of those who must administer medications or make vital decisions at dawn.

Added to this are the "invisible" risks: contamination from chemotherapy drugs and dangerous chemicals, the management of chronic or heart patients and musculoskeletal damage resulting from the manual handling of non-self-sufficient patients.

Artificial Intelligence at the service of prevention

"Hospital safety can no longer be considered a simple set of bureaucratic formalities," warns Maria Triassi, president of the conference organized with the Department of Public Health at the University of Federico II. "It must become an integral part of healthcare planning: from the design of a ward to the organization of shifts."

The big challenge for the 2026 edition is the integration of Artificial Intelligence. The algorithm won't replace the human factor, but it will allow for the analysis of huge volumes of data to predict critical situations, monitor stress levels, and anticipate environmental risks. Because protecting the health of caregivers is the first, essential step in ensuring the safety of those seeking treatment.