Shortage of nurses continues to worsen in the Algarve
Nurses working in the Algarve‘s public health system say they are overwhelmed by a lack of staff, putting both their well-being and patient safety at risk. According to the Portuguese Nurses’ Union (SEP), the situation is becoming critical, with blame placed squarely on hospital management.
The Algarve’s Local Health Unit (ULS), which oversees the hospitals in Faro, Portimão, and Lagos, is reportedly short around 1,500 nurses, based on staffing guidelines from the national nursing authority. SEP warns that this shortage has worsened in recent years and is now affecting the quality and safety of care, as well as the mental and physical health of nurses.
Due to extreme pressure, nurses may soon begin filing formal notices to decline responsibility for potential safety issues. If that happens, SEP says the hospital administration and, ultimately, the Ministry of Health would be accountable for not addressing the crisis.
The union highlighted that nurses often have to cover extra shifts for colleagues who are on medical leave. One nurse described working from 8am until midnight, then returning to work early the next morning with barely any rest.
In some cases, just five nurses are left to care for 40 patients, many of whom are highly dependent. Nurses say this makes it impossible to provide care that is both safe and dignified.
Portugal already falls short of international standards. While the OECD recommends 9 nurses per 1,000 residents, Portugal has only 7.9, and the Algarve region is even worse at just 4.8.
