The president of the Algarve's regional Socialist Party, António Eusébio, has expressed his deep concern about the government’s management of the Algarve's health service which he classes as being in "complete disarray."
"The instability that we have seen in the last year in the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve does not augur well," according to Eusébio in a statement issued today which will ring true with user groups across the region.
The public statement follows the resignation of Miguel Madeira and of the ‘leaving’ of António Esteves, and is a year after the exit of Martins dos Santos and of Ana Costa, all of whom collided with the administration over the central management model chosen for the Hospitals of the Algarve and represent a huge loss to the region's heathcare cover.
"It is clear that the coalition government is experiencing difficulties in the selection of regional health officials," according to the socialist boss who outlined the many worries felt by patients and staff and highlighted the instability of the whole system whichy is characterised by confusion and a lack of resources despite assurances that all is well, or that all soon will be well.
"This instability does not benefit the Algarve in any way," said the Socialist leader, aware that the tourist season is upon us and that the frequent promises from management for adequate off-season staffing levels have not yet been met, let alone increasing staff to cope with seasonal demand.
Further confusion has been caused by the "rumours that have been circulating in recent weeks, about the extinction of the ARS-Algarve management model and the creation of a possible southern regional health authority based in Évora along with the creation of a local health area for the Algarve to encompass the existing three hospitals and the three health centre groups."
