Around 250 hospital nurses in the Algarve could lose their jobs if their employment contracts are not renewed, warns the Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP).
Under a joint Health and Finance Ministries’ ruling, public-private hospitals such as the ones in Faro and Portimão will have to justify the renewal of hundreds of contracts before they are given authorisation to re-employ nurses.
The same ruling will apply if hospitals wish to hire more nurses, with the former having to justify their reasons to the government.
A spokesman for the union confirmed that both Algarve hospitals had already submitted details of around 250 contract renewals to be presented to the government.
