Nurses from Medicine Ward 3 at Marmeleiros Hospital have submitted a request for exemption from responsibility to the Order of Nurses and the administration of SESARAM, claiming they lack the necessary conditions to ensure safe, high-quality nursing care.
The complaint was released today by Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP), which says it is another indication of the difficulties currently affecting Madeira’s Regional Health Service.
According to the party, this is the second request for exemption from responsibility to become public within two weeks, following a similar document signed by 65 nurses from the Intensive Medicine Service at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital.
In the document, dated 30th June, nursing staff state that the service lacks the level of human resources required under good practice guidelines or the staffing recommendations set out by the Order of Nurses.
They claim the ward should have 58 nurses, including three rehabilitation nursing specialists, but currently has only 26 professionals available, six of whom are absent due to sick leave or other long-term absences.
The nurses warn that this shortage is compromising patient care and has resulted in working patterns they describe as illegal, with some professionals working consecutive night and day shifts without the required rest periods.
They say the situation deteriorated further after patients were transferred from Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital to Marmeleiros Hospital due to overcrowding in the Emergency Department. According to the complaint, several patients had to be accommodated in corridors because of a lack of available beds on the wards.
The document also highlights a shortage of healthcare assistants, which has resulted in nurses carrying out additional support duties, such as bathing patients, alongside their existing clinical responsibilities.
JPP deputy Paulo Alves said the repeated warnings from healthcare professionals reveal structural problems within SESARAM and accused the Regional Government of failing to acknowledge the reality of the situation.
He argues that the Executive must present solutions to address staff shortages, waiting lists, and the increasing pressure being felt across health services, while also criticising the current management of the hospital crisis.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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