Cancer surgeries have had to be delayed because doctors don’t have clean gowns. This latest ‘shock’ exposing the effects of austerity cuts on the health service came this week at IPO – the country’s top cancer hospital – in Lisbon.
At least three operations were cancelled in the same day, solely on the basis that surgical staff didn’t have enough clean gowns.
Denouncing the situation as “very serious”, the doctors association and the Portuguese League Against Cancer blamed “poor hospital management” and the ongoing cuts in health budgets.
José Manuel de Silva of the doctors association said: “It is unbelievable and very serious indeed, as it basically translates into bad management.” Silva stressed that there were IT systems in place that should ensure stock did not “rupture” in this way.
Talking for the Portuguese League Against Cancer, Vítor Veloso called the situation “dramatic”, as well as a huge worry for cancer patients.
Contacted by Correio da Manhã, however, IPO confirmed the delayed ops were all “minor surgeries” and that no major cancers had been affected.
