Nurses complain of overload at Porto IPO, where they say they are struggling to recruit staff

The Portuguese Nurses’ Union (SEP) said this Wednesday that many professionals at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO) in Porto have already threatened to leave the institution due to “work overload”, while the administration ensures that it is trying to recruit staff.

In a telephone statement to Lusa, Porto do SEP General Directorate coordinator Fatima Monteiro said, without providing figures, that “several dozen nurses from Porto IPO have already declared their unwillingness to work overtime, in writing.”

“And many [enfermeiros] “They are threatening to leave the facility,” he said, criticizing the administration for “not doing anything to improve the working conditions of nurses.”

Lusa asked the IPO Porto administration for clarification, which assured that measures had been implemented to reorganise work in an attempt to reduce the reliance on overtime.

While stressing that it “recognizes the efforts of nurses to address the need to work overtime,” the administration says “only by hiring more professionals will this need be addressed.”

“The hiring of more specialists (which implies an increase in the number of jobs) is only possible with the permission of the guardianship, and this is possible for the last time, in 2022 (…). In light of the latest steps and the agreed permissions, subject to supervision, there is a possibility that IPO Porto will hire new specialists very soon,” responded in writing to IPO Porto.

A gathering of nurses was planned for this morning at the doors of the IPO Porto, an action that comes less than three months after the AKP, in an identical initiative, denounced the situation at this cancer hospital.

“The situation remains the same. The problems are the same. Colleagues are tired of the working conditions and the lack of response. The IPO administration devalues ​​professionals and their problems. This creates a very bad organizational climate, more and more overloaded and, it seems, no desire to solve this issue. There is a strong “burnout”, and this is a consequence of overload and increased absenteeism,” said Fatima Monteiro.

The union leader added that the Ministry of Health “has already been warned about this situation” because “the main issue is government responsibility.”

In a conversation with Lusa, IPO representatives said Wednesday’s strike had no impact on the agency’s ability to provide assistance.

“We also inform you that the PSR, the union that called for this strike, only yesterday requested a meeting with the board of directors. [terça-feira] at 15:36 by email. IPO Porto wishes to clarify any doubts that the trade union movement and workers may have. IPO Porto acknowledges the work done by the health workers of this institution, guaranteeing the continuous quality of health care for IPO Porto users,” he concluded.

As of 31 July 2024, IPO Porto employed 801 nurses, 69 of whom were on fixed-term contracts.