The lack of nurses and hospital supplies in the Algarve is making it impossible to provide some health care to citizens. According to the Regional Directorate of the Portuguese Nurses Union, only in the ACES Central Health Centers (municipalities of Faro, Albufeira, S. Brás, Loulé and Olhão) there are 107 nurses missing, according to the staff calculation formulas.
In a statement, the union said that the ARS only budgeted three vacancies for the year 2015 and that «the nurses are leaving, but they are not replaced».
Although the Ministry of Health has announced the hiring of 1000 nurses for Primary Health Care at national level, the union emphasizes that in the case of ARS Algarve, «there is still a pending competition for 10 vacancies for about 2 years, which is urgently needed. conclude so that more nurses can be admitted”.
According to the SEP, the «Community Care Unit (UCC) of Faro there is a shortage of 3 nurses immediately, but the real need is 15 nurses. This lack of professionals, together with 2 vehicles that have been out of order since September, means that around 7 daily treatments in homes are canceled. It accompanied 133 patients and went to 80, having to promote “early discharges”».
Nurses also complain about the lack of material to provide care, in particular dressings, which requires that «some users have to buy from their pockets, or that alternatives are found that are not the most suitable, resulting in a process of longer healing period'.
The union also says that «there is a lack of batteries for the sphygmomanometers, there is a lack of toners and drums for the printers, as is the case of the USF Lauroé, in Loulé, which of 11 printers only 3 work, there are not enough devices for auscultation. the baby's heartbeat in pregnant women, and there is a lack of adult scales and calipers, which were ordered in 2011, and are still waiting… in Quarteira there are also professionals who are on the verge of buying printers and toners and use their personal computer to the service".
The management of flu vaccines in the region also deserves attention, since «initially, they were only to be given free of charge to users over 65, which “forced” that everyone else had to buy it at the pharmacy. Result: There are many vaccines left, and at the Health Center in Olhão alone there are about 700».
The SEP also states that the “Family Nurse” project remains unfulfilled, despite the Government having issued an order on 12 January, indicating four units in the Algarve in Lagos, Faro, Tavira and Olhão, to start the pilot experience on January 2nd.
“[The Government] announces to the media that another measure is underway, but in reality until the
At the moment none of the nursing teams of these units received more information to proceed with the
project, whose evaluation is expected at the end of two years! Is it really an electoral measure?”, concludes the statement.
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