Urgent Care Faces Unprecedented Pressure
At the end of the day, the scene at the Nélio Mendonça Hospital's emergency department may have appeared calm from the outside, but inside, the reality was stark. As the doors opened, patients lined the hallways on stretchers, waiting for a bed. Currently, the emergency service is overwhelmed, with 56 patients in the hallways awaiting admission to a ward. At times during the day, this number has reached 60, the highest ever recorded.
Delays in Discharge Add to the Crisis
The root of the problem, according to the clinical director of Sesaram, lies in what are called "problematic discharges." These are patients who are ready to leave the hospital but remain in beds, preventing new patients from being admitted.
Together with the Nélio Mendonça and Mareleiros hospitals, there are now 232 beds occupied by patients in this situation. The director called on the social security system to quickly find solutions to move these patients out, so that urgent care can continue without delay.
Our current operations in the emergency department are compromised, as we have 56 patients waiting for a bed in the ward before they can be admitted.
Staffing Shortages Lead to Increased Workload: 4 Instead of 7 Nurses
The situation is not only taxing hospital infrastructure but also putting a strain on the hospital staff. The emergency department is facing severe understaffing. In the morning shifts, for example, there should be seven nurses on duty, but often only four or five are present. This shortage is further compounded by the fact that nurses are being called on to work overtime to cover the gaps, leaving them with little time to rest. This creates a difficult work environment for those who are still on the front lines.
What happens is that, many times, to respond to these needs, all the hospital inpatient teams have to resort to overtime, to extra work. The president of the Nurses' Union insists that it is urgent to hire more professionals.
Union Calls for Immediate Hiring of Additional Staff, But Nothing Happens
The president of the Nurses' Union has been vocal in calling for the recruitment of more healthcare professionals. Since June or July of 2024, the union has been pushing for the opening of a recruitment process to hire 200 new nurses at the Sesaram. However, as of January 2025, no such process has been initiated. Meanwhile, the seasonal flu is adding to the pressure, with approximately 400 patients passing through the Nélio Mendonça emergency department each day.
Emergency Services Are Strained and Demand Quick Action
As the pressure mounts, the hospital is caught in a crisis where available resources are stretched to their limits. Staff are working tirelessly, but unless more support is provided, both patients and healthcare workers will continue to face serious challenges. The union’s call for more personnel and better management of patient flow is becoming increasingly urgent, as the hospital system teeters on the edge of collapse.
Summary
Emergency Departments Overwhelmed
Nélio Mendonça Hospital's emergency department is facing record overcrowding, with up to 60 patients waiting in hallways for a bed.
Delays in Patient Discharges Fuel the Crisis
"Problematic discharges" are blocking 232 beds across local hospitals, preventing the admission of new patients.
Staff Shortages Strain Hospital Resources
The emergency department is understaffed, with nurses working overtime, leading to fatigue and compromised care.
Union Demands Immediate Hiring of More Nurses
The Nurses' Union has called for the hiring of 200 nurses since mid-2024, but no action has been taken, worsening the staff shortage.
Madeiran Healthcare System at a Breaking Point
With surges in patient numbers, including flu cases, the hospital system is on the verge of collapse and urgently needs additional support.
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