Álvaro Santos Almeida visited the Fernando Fonseca Hospital (Amadora-Sintra), which has its Gynecology and Obstetrics emergency department closed today, similar to hospitals in Almada, Barreiro, Castelo Branco, Vila Franca de Xira, Aveiro, and Leiria.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, the executive director stated that one of the issues during weekends like Easter is “a structural shortage of human resources, especially in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region.”
“In the field of obstetrics, it is a pronounced characteristic. What happens is that usually, units resort to service providers to fill their schedules and ensure they remain open,” who are unavailable or less available to work during holiday weekends.
Álvaro Almeida noted that it is during these periods that “the problems are most evident, such as this Easter weekend.”
He assured, however, that there is an emergency network point within the National Health Service that will respond to all requests: “There is always a response for every case.”
Álvaro Almeida explained that although the Obstetrics and Gynecology emergency department at the Amadora-Sintra hospital has “its doors closed” since 8:00 AM, it remains operational.
Around midday, six patients were being attended to in the department and were “being properly assisted.”
“When we see on the SNS Portal that eight or ten emergencies are closed, it does not mean the SNS is closed. It only means one thing: Out of 168 entry points in the SNS emergency network, ten doors are closed,” he emphasized.
Reviewing these past two days, Álvaro Almeida said that the Executive Directorate has been monitoring the situation around the clock and so far, “is not aware of any problem or major constraint.”
“Naturally, there are occasional cases that resolve themselves through interconnection and cooperation of all elements in the SNS network, and especially thanks to the outstanding efforts of health professionals during this period,” he asserted.
When questioned about potentially regulating this service provision in the future, the executive director stated the goal is “to strengthen the cadre of doctors within the SNS, particularly in the area of obstetrics.”
“We are working with the Government, with the Ministry of Health, to create more favorable conditions for recruiting personnel into the local health unit framework nationwide,” he highlighted.
He stressed that the goal is “to replace labor currently provided by service providers with labor from ULS staff,” believing that if this is achieved, the problem will be mitigated.
Álvaro Almeida pointed out that the emergency problem is not a recent issue: “It is a problem that has existed for several years throughout Europe.”
Following the visit to Amadora-Sintra, Álvaro Santos Almeida, along with other members of the DE-SNS, will be at the Caldas da Rainha Hospital (ULS Oeste) later today.
These visits are part of a series of meetings that the Executive Directorate of the National Health Service has been conducting across ULS and IPOs throughout the country, intending to engage with healthcare professionals in the services.
