Summary:
Half of palliative patients die while waiting for care due to lack of availability.
Shortage of palliative care units is particularly severe in Algarve and central Portugal.
Families often refuse available spots to avoid separation from terminally ill loved ones.
Communication issues between hospitals and care units hinder patient referrals.
The report underscores the insufficient capacity of the current palliative care network.
Palliative Care Crisis in Portugal
A recent report from the Health Regulatory Authority reveals alarming statistics: half of the patients referred to palliative care died while waiting for a spot due to a lack of availability in the national network. This situation highlights a significant shortage of palliative care units, especially in the Algarve and central regions of the country.
Catarina Pazes, president of the Portuguese Association of Palliative Care, emphasized in an interview with Antena 1 that many families are declining available spots because they do not want to be separated from their loved ones during such critical times.
In addition to the lack of beds, Pazes pointed out the communication failures between hospitals and continuing care units, which complicate the referral process for terminal patients.
The findings from the Health Regulatory Authority starkly illustrate the insufficient capacity of the current palliative care network to meet the needs of the population, raising urgent questions about the future of end-of-life care in Portugal.
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