Hospital García de Horta (HGO) in Almada, Setúbal district, this Sunday clarified that its services for gynecology, obstetrics and general emergency care are operating, rejecting the restrictions that the union has indicated in this sector.
In a statement sent to Lusa today, the hospital, following news “which refers to restrictions on the activities” of the services, said both services continue to “operate 24 hours a day.”
Lusa said today, citing a union source, that “pediatric emergency rooms in Faro and Caldas da Rainha are closed this weekend, as well as obstetrics at García de Orta Hospital, where even general emergency care is closed.”
According to the President of the Union of Independent Physicians (SIM), Roque da Cunha, a shortage of doctors has resulted in HGO not rushing pregnant women into the OB/GYN department this weekend, and the hospital’s general emergency department is currently experiencing difficulties.
The National Institute of Emergency Medicine (INEM) is referring patients to other units, Roque da Cunha added.
In the clarification sent, García de Orta Hospital reminded that since the National Health Service (SNS) hospitals operate on the network, they request a “CODU detour” when necessary.
It consists of a request to INEM to temporarily reroute emergency/critical ambulances to other SNS facilities.
“This procedure aims to provide patients with a faster and more adequate response” and can be caused by various reasons such as “high flow and overcrowding of services, exhaustion of hospital capacity, incomplete/reduced teams, or physical space restrictions.”
García de Orta acknowledged that “sometimes due to high attendance and understaffed medical staff, he asked CODU to temporarily refer patients in need of emergency/critical care to other hospitals.”
However, during this period, the services of gynecology and obstetrics and general emergency care continue to “work with a minimum presence of therapists”, therefore, “care for all patients arriving on their own is guaranteed.”
The SNS portal consulted by Luza mentions that the obstetric-gynecological emergency service of the Garcia da Horta hospital was closed from 8:00 am on Saturday and reopened at 8:00 today, the same is happening with the maternity ward.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
