The Inspectorate-General of Health Activities (IGAS) announced it has requested clarifications from the Local Health Unit of the Leiria region regarding a critical incident involving the premature birth of a baby in a Volunteer Firefighters of Nazaré ambulance. The baby later died after being admitted to the gynecology/obstetrics emergency service at Santo André Hospital in Leiria.
Initiated by Inspector-General António Carapeto on July 16, the inquiry will address “facts related to the birth of a premature baby in a Volunteer Firefighters of Nazaré ambulance who subsequently died after admission to the Santo André Hospital emergency service in Leiria.”
IGAS has asked the Local Health Unit of the Leiria region to conduct evaluations as outlined in the technical guidance document “Evaluation of the Quality of Services Provided in Urgent and Emergency Situations to Pregnant Patients,” published on July 7, and to submit the findings.
The incident was reported on July 11, with the Local Health Unit (ULS) of the Leiria region asserting that all available resources were mobilized to provide a prompt and effective response to the pregnant woman.
“From the first moment, all available resources were mobilized to ensure the fastest and most efficient response possible, adhering to established clinical protocols,” read a statement issued at the time to Lusa news agency.
According to ULS, the Leiria Medical Emergency and Reanimation Vehicle (VMER) was dispatched at 08:24, with the pregnant woman being accompanied by an Immediate Life Support team.
“The delivery occurred with the presence of the VMER medical team, who immediately initiated resuscitation efforts on the newborn,” explained ULS, noting that “these efforts continued during transport to the hospital unit and in the emergency room.”
ULS emphasized that, given the gestational age of 26 weeks and the significant prematurity, “the Pediatric Inter-Hospital Transport from INEM [National Institute of Medical Emergency] was promptly called to ensure potential transfer to a specialized neonatal care unit.”
“Regrettably, despite all medical efforts, it was not possible to reverse the situation, and the baby sadly passed away,” it stated.
The Nazaré firefighters were dispatched by the Urgent Patient Guidance Center (CODU) of INEM, routed through 112, around 08:30 on July 10, to Valado dos Frades, the location of the aid request.
The Nazaré firefighters and an Alcobaça Immediate Life Support ambulance were dispatched, and upon reaching the pregnant woman, they sought additional support from INEM, which at about 08:50 authorized extra assistance from the VMER at the Coimbra hospital.
The VMER departed from the Coimbra hospital at 08:56 to meet on the A8 highway, en route to the hospital in Leiria.
According to the report, at 09:16, CODU was informed that the birth occurred at 09:10 in the ambulance, with support from an Immediate Life Support ambulance, around 10 minutes from the hospital in Leiria.
The newborn died after entering the Leiria hospital, with the time of death recorded at 09:53.
