PS submits praise motion for Madeira mental health and palliative care staff
Madeira GuideThe motion recognises multidisciplinary mental health and palliative care professionals and refers to staffing, access and waiting times for care.
The Socialist Party parliamentary group submitted a vote of praise to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira for professionals working in mental health and palliative care in the region. The initiative was presented on the occasion of World Mental Health Day and World Palliative Care Day, marked on Saturday, 10 October.
Deputy Marta Freitas said the motion recognises professionals who support people facing suffering, illness, vulnerability or particular fragility, as well as their families. For mental health, the PS named psychiatrists, child psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, general and family medicine doctors, social workers, therapists, health technicians, operational assistants and other staff involved in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and community integration.
Madeira Health Service data recorded 53,105 psychology appointments and 14,260 psychiatry appointments in 2025. Freitas said the regional delegation of the Order of Psychologists identified in October 2025 a need for more staff, updated assessment and intervention tools, and continuous training, particularly in hospital services and health centres under greater pressure.
The motion also recognises palliative care staff, including doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and operational assistants. Freitas said 181 people were receiving palliative care in January, with 11 admitted to the Hospital Dr. JoĂŁo de Almada unit and 170 followed at home. She said waiting times, particularly for inpatient access, can range from one to two months, and that teams need more staff and logistical conditions to reach more people, including at home.
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Madeira Guide
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