On Thursday, the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital was swamped, leaving more than 60 patients on trolleys in corridors as beds were unavailable. A spokesperson who contacted JM. said that they were under ‘enormous pressure.
With patients lining the corridors, nursing staff claim that this situation is becoming more and more frequent, with some patients having to stay ‘in transit’ for two to three days before a bed becomes available at the hospital or home.
The shortage of available stretchers hampered the normal functioning of the service, leaving ambulances stuck at A & E as paramedics were unable to hand their patients over; in fact, there have been incidents where paramedics have had to ask doctors and nursing staff to check patients still in their care. The situation is further compounded as about half of the hospital beds available are taken up by those who can be discharged but cannot return home due to a lack of practical care available.
More than 70 nurses from the Emergency Service have asked to be relieved of responsibility, pointing out that the current situation and the permanence of patients in the corridors are among the main reasons for taking this position.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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