The Health Activities General Inspection (IGAS) announced on Friday the initiation of an “inspection process” regarding the case of a four-month-old baby taken by her mother from the pediatric ward of the hospital in Gaia on Wednesday.
The IGAS specified that “following media reports on December 4, 2025, regarding the removal of a four-month-old baby by her mother from the pediatrics department of the Eduardo Santos Silva Hospital, part of the Gaia/Espinho Local Health Unit, bypassing security measures, an inspection process was initiated by order of the Inspector-General on December 4, 2025,” according to a statement.
IGAS further noted that the “inspection process 270/2025-INS aims to assess the security mechanisms at the hospital unit.”
The baby returned to the hospital on Thursday after being delivered to the GNR Posto dos Carvalhos in Vila Nova de Gaia. Between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM that same day, the child was placed under the care of an institution.
The mother took her daughter from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon after being informed by the court in the morning that the child would be placed with a foster family. The Gaia/Espinho Local Health Unit (ULSGE) has launched an internal investigation as a result.
The case was initially reported by Jornal de Notícias (JN), stating that the hospital informed the Public Security Police (PSP) and the court about the baby’s disappearance.
Luís Matos, president of the health unit’s Board of Directors, confirmed on Thursday that an evaluation of the incident is underway.
“We are going to evaluate everything, including the bracelet system and how it was possible for her to be removed. We will conduct all possible tests,” he stated.
This issue arises because the electronic bracelet was found intact in the trash bin of the bathroom in the room where the child was admitted.
“We need to learn from this to ensure it does not happen again. We will make sure this does not repeat, drawing all necessary lessons,” he added.
[News updated at 1:30 PM]
The baby taken by the mother from the hospital in Gaia, after being informed that the child would be placed with a foster family, has been found. She is well and under the care of an institution. The mother, who previously lost another child, may not be suitable to keep her.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 08:55 – 05/12/2025
