Algarve nurses refuse to drive service cars after ARS asks colleagues for damages

Nurses from several Continuing Care Units (UCC) will refuse to drive service vehicles, following the demand made […]

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Nurses from several Continuing Care Units (UCC) will refuse to drive service vehicles, following the demand, made by the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve, to pay for damages to a car they used in the performance of their duties, announced the regional delegation of the Portuguese Nurses Union.

According to the union, «two nurses from the UCC (Community Care Unit) of Portimão and Faro were notified for payment of damages to ARS service vehicles. In a letter signed by the President of the ARS, payment is required within ten working days, under penalty of proceeding to disciplinary proceedings, also reserving the right to "in the absence of voluntary payment, proceed with the deduction of the outstanding amount in its monthly salary”».

A situation that «generated a wave of indignation and protest» and led the nurses from these two Care Units, but also from their counterparts in Lagoa and Silves, to show solidarity with their colleagues, «subscribing driving refusal letters». "Professionals from other UCC are expected to follow suit."

“It is not part of the nurses' duties to drive vehicles, but even so over the years, either due to lack of vehicles or lack of drivers, nurses have ensured home visits and other activities in the community on foot, driving vehicles. service (often without conditions of safety, hygiene and comfort) and even their own, paying out of their pocket», guaranteed the SEP.

Contacted by Sul Informação, the ARS do Algarve indicated, only, that «the Board of Directors is dealing with the situation internally» and that it is «in contact with the professionals in question and their union representatives», in order to resolve the situation.

The union members lament that, "despite the difficulties faced daily, despite the hours of work and insufficient to respond to numerous requests", as well as "the superhuman effort that they have been developing to ensure as much as possible the care to the population”, nurses are “compensated” with an unacceptable attitude on the part of the ARS that is deserving the total rejection by the professionals».

«The SEP holds ARS Algarve responsible for all care/activities to the community that are unmarked or that do not have any response and demands that the decision to pay damages to vehicles by the professionals be revoked and even once and for all urgent solutions to the problems of Health in the Algarve are implemented», concluded the union.

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