Márcia Ornelas, a specialist nurse in Maternal and Obstetric Health and a union leader, highlighted that healthcare professionals in Madeira continue to perform their duties "with the conditions they have," despite increasing pressure on the Regional Health Service.
In an interview with TSF Madeira, Ornelas emphasized that the main difficulty remains the shortage of human resources, affecting doctors, nurses, and other staff. She admitted that nursing is going through "a not-so-good phase," marked by team burnout, an increase in complaints, and a lack of understanding from patients and families.
Ornelas explained that criticisms regarding waiting times, particularly in emergency services, often stem from a lack of knowledge about the Manchester Triage System and clinical priorities. She also warned about episodes of verbal and physical aggression against professionals.
Despite the challenges, the union leader expressed optimism about the future, believing that the opening of Madeira's new Central and University Hospital and the future Porto Santo hospital could enhance the health system's response capacity.
