A newborn with a congenital brain hemorrhage, born at Portimão Hospital on Friday afternoon, was transported by ambulance to Hospital Dona Estefânia in Lisbon, as the helicopter of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) based in Loulé was inoperable.
The news was confirmed by INEM, which stated that “the interhospital transfer of the baby could not have been secured by air from any of the bases, Évora or Loulé, due to adverse weather conditions.”
The organization further emphasized that “it ensured the response via land, using the Pediatric Inter-hospital Transport Ambulance, guaranteeing transport and medical accompaniment for the baby with maximum safety.”
“The helicopter based in Loulé became inoperable around 3:00 PM, due to maintenance and logistics issues, and for a limited period, with the expectation to resume operation tomorrow [Monday],” they detailed.
The newborn, who was transferred to the Faro unit with a referral for neurosurgery and sent to Lisbon due to the severity of his condition, was reportedly admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Hospital Dona Estefânia after traveling approximately 270 kilometers by ambulance.
Feedback from the Algarve Local Health Unit and the São José Local Health Unit is awaited.
[News in update]
