Surge in Births Forces Resignation of Lisbon Maternity's Head Obstetrician

The general coordinator of gynecology and obstetrics at Maternidade Alfredo da Costa in Lisbon, Carlos Marques, has officially resigned this Wednesday. This decision was reported by Renascença, revealing that his resignation was communicated in a letter addressed to Rosa Valente de Matos, the president of the Local Health Unit of São José.

In his letter, Marques cited work overload as the primary reason for his resignation. The maternity has been experiencing a significant increase in deliveries, reaching record levels, thereby intensifying pressure on healthcare professionals.

Unlike other hospitals in the country that have had to close their gynecology and obstetrics emergency services due to resource shortages, Maternidade Alfredo da Costa has continued to operate without interruption. This commitment to maintaining continuous service has required a high level of dedication and effort from Marques's team, ultimately making it unsustainable for him to remain in his position.

Current Situation at Maternidade Alfredo da Costa

In August, the maternity recorded an average of 442 emergency attendances per week, which is higher than the 320 in July and consistent with last August's figures of 443. This data indicates that the planned closures of other maternity units have increased demand for services at Maternidade Alfredo da Costa, similar to trends observed last year.

During the week of August 5-11, there were 472 attendances in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Emergency Service and 92 deliveries. The maternity averages 13 deliveries per day in August, compared to 11 in the same period last year, and significantly higher than 9 deliveries per day in 2019, before the pandemic.

With Lusa