After a “winter of discontent” within the Algarve health service, Faro Hospital has emerged smelling of roses. Tourism bosses have voted unanimously on a motion congratulating the hospital on its excellent cardiology unit.
With the summer holiday crowds at the door, Região de Turismo do Algarve says that any tourist who visits the region – whether a heart patient or otherwise – can be comforted to know they will find a service here “as good as anywhere in Europe”.
Putting his name to the eulogy, president of the authority Desidério Silva said: “Região de Turismo do Algarve recognises the efforts of the doctors, nurses and technicians, as well as those in charge, in developing the service into one of excellence that places the Algarve as a prestige tourist destination in Portugal.”
The praise comes two years after the central hospital administration set out to do just this, under the leadership of no-nonsense Lisbon ophthalmologist Dr Pedro Nunes.
Under Nunes’ watch, the chaos that used to reign in Faro Hospital – particularly in the casualty department, where patients were known to lie for days on stretchers before being properly admitted – has now been consigned to the past.
“This is now a great hospital,” he told the Resident on a recent visit. “And our next plan is to revitalise Portimão.”
Faro’s heart unit, with 10 ward beds and six intensive care beds, prides itself on its staff being able to speak English.
“We get a huge amount of English patients – as many as 30% sometimes – so it makes sense that we speak their language, for people to feel at home.”
Nunes has always maintained that foreign visitors could be put off by ‘scare stories’ fanned across the media focusing on austerity cuts within the service. Thus this latest praise comes with perfect timing.
By NATASHA DONN [email protected]
Photo: Algarve hospital boss Dr. Pedro Nunes
Photo by: ALGARVE RESIDENT
