The situation of the Maternal and Child area in the Algarve is perhaps the worst since I can remember in the last two decades. The number of days with closure or no specialist care available in 2022 was unacceptable.
In a tourist region such as the Algarve, if nothing is done, with the utmost urgency, pregnant women and adults with children will certainly think twice before coming here. All studies indicate that quality and safety in health care are a factor taken into account when choosing a destination for tourists.
Will the maternity hospital in Portimão close permanently?
The maternity hospital in Portimão has been closed for many days, and such an idea may cross the enlightened minds of some people. However, the number of births that take place in the Maternity of Portimão each year and the distance of the population that serves the Maternity of Faro, mean that this hypothesis should not be considered, at least seriously or credibly.
Incidentally, the chairman of the Executive Committee of the SNS Dr. Fernando Araújo and Mr. Minister of Health Manuel Pizarro have already spoken out, saying that the definitive closure of the Maternidade de Portimão is not in their plans.
Currently, given the complete incapacity demonstrated, in the last two years, by the leaders of the Hospital Center for the resolution of existing problems, the articulation of care in the SNS and the sharing of resources and professionals are the I think quickly necessary for health care in the maternal and child area to be carried out safely.
Preferably, a sharing of human resources between the Algarve and the Alentejo should be carried out, allowing the closure of Maternities in these regions to occur in as few days as possible.
Knowing the health professionals in the regions well, I am sure that, if they are properly involved and see a light at the end of the tunnel, they will be part of the solution and have the maximum willingness to collaborate. Well there are colleagues who always give everything and a little more!
What has been done in the last two years to resolve the situation?
The resolution of this situation does not occur only with hospital leadership waiting for, by a miracle, differentiated health professionals to fall from the sky, available to come and work in the Algarve.
In the last year, there were even several negative factors for a resolution in this sense, such as:
• the loss of quality certification of the Gynecology Service of Faro;
• the lack of quality certification from the hospital;
• the loss of university capacity to teach medical students;
• the hospital leadership's lack of commitment to postgraduate training and research;
• the absence of visible investment in the maternal and child area (and this is not due to lack of money, as it has been announced that more than 30 million euros have been invested in these two years, perhaps one day we will see where);
• the actions that led to the breakdown of the Administration's relationship with the Faculty of Medicine;
• absence of communication of any structuring plan for the mother-infant area.
It was the fall of the U of the CHUA, with a retrocession from a practical point of view to the pre-university hospital era.
Whatever has been accomplished during the past two years by hospital health leaders has not yielded any result. Continuing on the same path will mean believing in Santa Claus and, forgive me the children who believe in Santa Claus, but in real life this is not enough for wishes to come true.
Have hope in the new year!
The statements made by Mr. Minister of Health and Mr. Executive Director of the SNS show that they have very different ideas about what happened in the last two years in the Algarve. This situation will certainly lead to urgent and necessary changes in the leadership of health in the Algarve.
The New Year may bring solutions for which some suggestions are left:
• Involve professionals from the Maternal and Child Area, namely from gynecology and obstetrics, paediatrics and anesthesiology, without ticks or authoritarian postures, for the creation of a structuring plan for the Algarve region;
• The plan should be focused on creating conditions for the full functioning of the maternal and child area, creating adequate conditions for attracting and retaining professionals, including:
>>Define an investment plan to improve and provide adequate conditions in terms of equipment and installations, both in gynecology and obstetrics and in paediatrics and anesthesiology;
>>Provide the possibility of carrying out your activity in an institution with recognized Quality (certified by the DGS/ACSA);
>>Enabling health professionals to provide health care, participate in training and research;
>>Enhance existing capacities at the Academic Center and at the Faculty of Medicine to differentiate healthcare and innovate in the region;
>>Provide the possibility to participate in research and innovative projects;
>>Create a structure for presenting and disclosing conditions to health professionals.
• The plan should be publicly discussed and presented, involving the various entities and civil society in its implementation and optimization;
• The plan must be implemented by credible leadership that transmits confidence to professionals and the population.
We can no longer believe in Santa Claus, let's hope that national policy makers bring, in the Year 2023, the leadership to the health care that the region needs. New Year New Life it is a necessary and urgent finding for health in the Algarve.
The Algarve always deserve more and better, they cannot accept being second-class citizens, because they are not!! A good year 2023 to all!
Author Nuno Marques is a cardiologist and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Algarve
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