The Barreiro Hospital currently employs eight obstetricians, with six over the age of 55 and no longer eligible for emergency shifts, either day or night. The remaining two doctors might consider resigning from the National Health Service (SNS) if forced, according to the leader of the union structure.
“This is a pointless measure because there are no doctors to whom this can be applied,” warned Joana Bordalo e Sá, emphasizing that doctors “cannot be forcibly mobilized,” as they are protected by collective labor agreements.
The government confirmed today that the Ministries of Health and Finance are finalizing the legal framework for the future regional emergency unit in the Setúbal Peninsula to meet the needs of pregnant women and newborns in the area. This legal document also aims to ensure fair compensation for SNS professionals.
The Expresso reports, citing a source from Health Minister Ana Paula Martins’ office, that the obstetrics team at Barreiro Hospital will be mobilized by decree, with the transfer expected as soon as the government proceeds with consolidating obstetrics emergencies on the south bank in Almada, as announced in parliament this week.
During the parliamentary hearing, Ana Paula Martins stated that concentrating emergency services at Almada Hospital, with support from Setúbal Hospital (receiving cases forwarded by INEM and SNS 24), would require seven complete teams at Almada and three service provision teams.
“Whatever is published cannot be enforced because collective labor agreements protect the doctors and they cannot be relocated to work at a hospital in a different municipality,” reiterated Joana Bordalo e Sá.
The union leader emphasized that the most concerning issue is the government is telling pregnant women in Barreiro and Setúbal that they will be deprived of nearby emergency obstetrics care.
Joana Bordalo e Sá also confirmed that “there was no negotiation at all” with FNAM regarding this issue, following the minister’s statement that creating regional emergencies involves specific legal documents that have to be negotiated with unions, arguing the government couldn’t proceed without discussing the new work organization.
The creation of these regional emergencies, composed of shared teams between hospitals, is a measure outlined in the Government Program.
The document highlights that priority will be given to more critical specialties—obstetrics and pediatrics—by creating regional emergency units comprising shared health teams between hospitals.
[Updated at 20:50]
