In a note sent to the Lusa agency, the ULS of São José, which includes the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital (MAC), states that Carlos Marques “remains in his position until the appointment of a new specialist in charge, at which time he will continue to work as a specialist on the MAC staff.”
The ULS of São José adds that “this resignation is not having an impact on the normal functioning of the maternity hospital, which continues to ensure a response to the population seeking its services, as has been happening at present.”
The board of directors of ULS São José only mentions that “the process of replacing” the head of Gynecology and Obstetrics is underway.
According to the institution, “Carlos Marques’ resignation request” was submitted by letter on August 12 and was accepted at the board meeting on August 13.
“The board thanks the dedication, commitment, and professionalism of all MAC professionals, who have allowed the usual provision of quality and safe care to be maintained, as well as the networking with other health units,” the note reads.
The ULS emphasizes that “this coordination, combined with increased effort from professionals, has allowed MAC to always keep its doors open, responding to the needs of women in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, as well as other regions, always with the commitment of a vast team.”
The news of Carlos Marques’ resignation was reported by Rádio Renascença, which revealed that the official wrote a letter to the president of ULS São José, Rosa Valente de Matos, citing “high work overload at a time when the maternity hospital is breaking records for deliveries.”
When questioned by journalists during the inauguration of health units in Tondela, the Minister of Health refused to comment on the resignation, referring explanations to the president of ULS São José.
Last week, Rosa Valente de Matos, in statements to Lusa, had warned that the “great effort” that MAC professionals were making would not be possible to maintain for much longer, recalling that on the 12th alone – when five Gynecology and Obstetrics emergency units closed – the maternity hospital had performed 25 deliveries, the highest number since 2013, when 22 deliveries were recorded on a day in January.
The same official also asked the Executive Board of the National Health Service for greater coordination between hospitals, considering the rotating closures in these specialties’ emergency services, remembering that “MAC’s capacity is also somewhat limited.”
MAC has recorded a weekly average of 442 emergency visits in August, above the July average (320), and an average of 13 deliveries per day, 15 on weekends (11 deliveries, on average, in the same month of 2023).
