Three medical services directors at Faro Hospital have tended their resignations, citing pressures brought to bear on them by management, to free up hospital beds by sending patients home earlier than medically appropriate.The complaint that Faro hospital is overcrowded is not a new one, with nurses at the end of last year, breaking ranks to expose ‘war zone’ working conditions and number of patients each was supposed to deal with.
The government says that everything is just fine and sticks to announcing headline figures and the ‘investment’ it is making in the health service but extra staff and money always seems to be somewhere else.
According to the secretary general of the Independent Medical Workers' Union, Jorge Roque da Cunha, the three directors the service directors are at their wits’ end with overcrowding, poor patient care and pressure to move people out.
According to the secretary general of the Independent Medical Workers' Union, Jorge Roque da Cunha, the three directors the service directors are at their wits’ end with overcrowding, poor patient care and pressure to move people out.
"In the hospital of Faro for several years that the set of doctors has stoically maintained an almost miraculous situation," said Roque da Cunha, adding that there comes a time when enough is enough and that speeding up patient discharges, displays, "an irresponsible attitude."
"I call on the Ministry of Health to invest in the hospital in the Algarve, invest in the services and in the human resources needed," said the official.
The Health Minister, Adalberto Campos Fernandes, downplayed the resignations, saying that there are about 1,800 professionals holding similar positions in the country.
The Health Minister, Adalberto Campos Fernandes, downplayed the resignations, saying that there are about 1,800 professionals holding similar positions in the country.
Despite everything always being OK in the world of the Minister of Health, he has acknowledged that a "significant amount" of hospitals are technically bankrupt, but that he has an answer for that, more money.
Adalberto Campos Fernandes made the statement during a hearing in the health committee on health policy and about the €1.4 billion euros that was announced for hospitals to pay off their debts.
According to the minister, these new funds will, "correct the budgetary fragility of Public Hospitals,” and keep many from technical bankruptcy.
Figures released on Monday by the Directorate-General for the Budget, show the government’s 'payment to suppliers' arrears amounted to €1.188 billion as at the end of January, with the majority of debts being in the health sector.
Good news for hospital administrators but how much money from these payments will be channelled to better patient care is no even debateable as the ‘extra’ funds are to pay off debts to staff and suppliers to the health service.
