The Local Health Unit of Arco Ribeirinho (ULSAR) has announced a contingency plan due to the temporary unavailability of medical human resources, although the general emergency department remains open and fully operational, ensuring the provision of care to the population.
“A surgeon is physically present, ensuring a response to internal clinical situations, as well as the evaluation and potential referral of patients to other units within the National Health Service network, whenever clinically indicated,” stated ULSAR in a note sent to Lusa.
This information follows a statement released by the Users Committee of Public Services in Barreiro, which indicated that the general surgery emergency at Hospital of Nossa Senhora do Rosário was closed today, with patients being redirected to Garcia de Orta in Almada.
In the statement, the users committee noted it was the first time the general surgery emergency at the Barreiro hospital was closed, a situation caused by the lack of doctors.
The users committee also suggested that this situation might reoccur on more days throughout August.
“This closure adds to many others that have caused our concern and protest. It adds to the closure of orthopedic emergencies and surgeries on Fridays, as well as the cardiology emergency, and obstetrics and gynecology emergencies and delivery room,” the users committee emphasized.
Condemning the situation, the users committee argued that the hospital must remain open with essential services available full-time.
“What happens to patients needing urgent care? They have to travel kilometers when they have a hospital fully equipped in their residential and influential area,” added the users committee, criticizing the lack of investment in public service and holding successive governments accountable “for doing everything to dismantle the National Health Service.”
The Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário is part of ULSAR, which directly influences the municipalities of Barreiro, Moita, Montijo, and Alcochete, all located in the district of Setúbal.
According to Pordata statistics, these four municipalities currently have 232,604 inhabitants.
ULSAR also includes the District Hospital of Montijo, and health centers in Alcochete, Barreiro, Quinta da Lomba, Moita, Montijo, and Baixa da Banheira.
