The Portuguese National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) has issued a statement highlighting severe concerns over working conditions and the quality of care provided to pregnant women and new mothers at the Bissaya Barreto Obstetric Emergency Unit in Coimbra. According to the FNAM, these issues reflect structural and organizational deficiencies affecting healthcare services in the region.
The federation notes that the frequent closures of the Leiria and Aveiro obstetric emergency services during the summer without additional staffing at the Coimbra facility have placed an overwhelming burden on medical professionals. This situation risks patient safety and increases the likelihood of clinical errors, which could have dire consequences.
Doctors have reported issues such as the frequent lack of available beds for high-risk pregnancies and new mothers, unnecessary and risky patient transfers between units, and the overwhelming reliance on the SNS 24 hotline, which exacerbates the facility’s burden. Furthermore, patients are often directed to the Bissaya Barreto unit without prior communication regarding bed availability, leading to delays and additional transfers.
It is also highlighted that patients, including pregnant women and new mothers, are being transported by INEM to the facility without prior communication, contrary to current guidelines.
The FNAM has addressed a letter to the Coimbra health unit’s administration, demanding urgent action to address these concerns. The federation also holds the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, accountable for the deterioration of the National Health Service, emphasizing the severe risks posed to women and newborns across the country.
