Over a hundred protestors gathered at the Barlavento Hospital to voice their opinions against the probable closure of the maternity unit and to call for the resignation of the entire board of directors of the Hospitals of the Algarve Group.
A on-the-spot vote was taken at the protest and it was unanimously decided that the maternity unit should stay open, and that the board, headed by the controversial Dr Pedro Nunes, should all be sacked.
The protest was organised by the 'Commission of Users of the National Health Service of Portimão' and the 'Citizens Movement for the Defence of Public Services in the Algarve.'
Our old friend João Vasconcelos was there (Via do Infante Users Committee and Portimão Councillor) heading the 'Movement for the Defence of Public Services in the Algarve,' which criticised the "accelerated degradation of the National Health Service throughout the Algarve region, due to the 'Troika' and the PSD/CDS-PP Government policies.”
Vasconcelos is no fan of Dr Nunes whom he referred to as a "faithful executor of the destruction of health services in the Algarve," where there are daily reports of "drug shortages and delayed operations."
"They want to close the maternity unit, but we do not accept its closure, even its temporary closure," said Vasconcelos, adding that in Portimão there are "more than 1,000 babies delivered a year."
Vasconcelos said mothers-to-be in the western Algarve would be much disadvantaged and would face journeys of up to 100 kilometres to Faro.
Pedro Purificação of the 'Committee of Users of the NHS in Portimão,' said that the protest was called after the "announcement of the closure of the maternity hospital in Portimão," which is "hastening the destruction of the NHS and the advance of private healthcare."
Chairman of the Board responsible for the Barlavento Hospital, Dr Pedro Nunes, confirmed having received a notice from the director of pediatrics at the Barlavento which had called for the temporary closure of the maternity ward due to a lack of doctors.
Nunes said the ward was only open due to the goodwill of doctors in Portimão who have been working many hours and doctors from Faro who can help when needed.
Pedro Nunes said he will do everything to keep the maternity unit open in Portimão, but said that if there are days when the service can not be provided, it is preferable to send people to Faro.
Nunes also blames those who took out an injunction that prevents doctors in Faro being obliged to work in Portimão when asked to.
Many see Nunes working towards the re-modelling of the Barlavento hospital as a distant outpost with Faro providing specialist services for the entire Algarve region despite its geographical location being to the east of centre.
