The arrival of professionals increases the response capacity of hospital services in the Algarve, as the institution "continues its commitment to hiring and valuing" workers, the ULS indicated in a statement.

The head nurse, José Vieira dos Santos, welcomed the new professionals on 21 September in a session where he highlighted "the importance of humanised care, teamwork and the responsibility of health professionals."

"Never forget that before we are nurses and professionals, we are people caring for people," the official warned, quoted in the ULS/Algarve statement.

José Vieira dos Santos argued that nursing “should not be reduced” to a succession of tasks, but “should also be reflected in the way” professionals relate to patients.

“Don’t let nursing become a succession of tasks. Nursing cannot be just what we do; it also has to be how we are with people,” he said.

José Vieira dos Santos also emphasised the importance of teamwork to ensure a quality response and left the new professionals with three recommendations: “Take good care of people, take good care of each other, and take good care of yourselves.”

In the session, ULS/Algarve board chairman Tiago Botelho also highlighted the importance of strengthening the teams and "the institution's intention to continue hiring nurses."

Tiago Botelho also appealed to the new workers to publicise the professional opportunities available at ULS Algarve.

"Spread the word," the hospital leader said.

With the arrival of the 136 professionals, the hospitals in Faro and Portimão will have their teams reinforced, a measure that ULS/Algarve frames "in the commitment to hiring" to ensure quality healthcare in the Algarve region.

The Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP) has called for more hiring, saying there is a shortage of about 2,000 nurses in the Algarve, arguing that the shortage has worsened because of a lack of retention measures and that admissions fall far short of demand.