The number of elderly patients hospitalized despite being clinically discharged continues to rise, with Social Security responses halving since the pandemic. As of the end of October, there were 832 patients in this situation awaiting a place in residential facilities.
In response to journalists in Guarda, Ana Paula Martins stated that this is not a new issue, but the government is attempting to address the problem.
“For many years we’ve had numerous social cases, the diagnosis is complete. The government, through Health and Social Security, is trying to find more spaces, more places, more home support. But there is still much work to do, especially with care homes, as care needs to be brought to the homes so they don’t have to bring the elderly to the hospital,” said the minister.
According to Ana Paula Martins, “often it is not necessary to remove the elderly from the comfort of their home or the care facility, as we have the means to reach them. This is a commitment we need to succeed in.”
However, the Health Minister noted that this is “not resolved in a year, or two, or three, as we have a very fragile situation in terms of long-term care.”
Ana Paula Martins rejected the notion that many Residential Structures for the Elderly (ERPI) projects were shelved after Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) support was halved.
“What happened was that these were defined when the Recovery and Resilience Plan was made, but the delays in notifications were numerous, and execution rates were around 2%, now they are around 24, 25, 26%,” she said.
According to the minister, “some entities that signed protocols realized they couldn’t complete the work by August, which is when we wrap up, and thus decided to withdraw to avoid penalties.”
Nevertheless, Ana Paula Martins assured that the PRR funding for timely ERPI refurbishments in the National Network of Integrated Continued Care is not lost.
“We have some units needing work, and a large portion of this investment, which can be completed in nine months, will proceed,” she asserted.
The Health Minister also highlighted the need for human resources “not only in the National Health Service but in the health system as a whole,” adding that there is significant investment in home care teams.
“This is not only a service for the National Network of Integrated Continued Care but also for palliative care and home hospitalization. With technological advancements and remote monitoring, nearly anything is possible. Nothing prevents us from having a different landscape in two or three years,” the minister acknowledged.
Nevertheless, Ana Paula Martins emphasized: “We will have to work faster in the next five years than we have in the past 15, undoubtedly.”
Extreme cases are cited where some elderly patients have been waiting over four years, with many passing away before a transfer, according to reports.
Admissions into care homes via Social Security have dropped from 2,175 in 2021 to only 923 last year, reflecting a 38% decrease compared to 2023.
In 2024, by October 22, only 697 admissions were recorded, with Lisbon, Porto, and Setúbal being the most strained regions.
The shortage of vacancies (533 nationwide under regulations governing these admissions) is blocking hospital beds and preventing scheduled admissions, contributing to emergency room congestion.
