São Brás de Alportel council has unanimously approved a motion urging the government to do something about the “serious constraints” that continue to plague the borough’s physiotherapy centre.
The Centro de Medicina e Reabilitação do Sul (CMRS) is the only state-run facility for victims of serious accidents and limb loss in southern Portugal, although it has faced a shortage of human resources and medical equipment for several years.
As the council points out in a statement, the centre opened in 2007 and was known for its high standards until October 2013 when the centre’s public-private partnership ended.
“Since then, the centre has faced difficulties that have compromised its ability to treat patients,” the council says.
The motion stresses that one of the wards is closed and only 18 beds are currently taken, while the waiting list continues to grow.
It also says the centre is in dire need of more doctors, therapists, nurses and administrative employees.
The physiotherapy centre was included in the Algarve’s university hospital board (CHUA) last year, but this “has changed nothing” in terms of the hiring of new staff.
And while the new board promised “more autonomy” for the centre, “decisions are increasingly dependent on the CHUA board”.
Thus, the motion urges the government to step in and do something before the situation becomes worse.
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
