Of the 6,750 deliveries, only 24 were referred to the private sector.

According to data released on Tuesday by the SNS Executive Directorate, of some 6,750 births carried out between June 1 and September 10 in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, only 24 pregnant women were transferred to private hospitals (0.13%).

“This transmission during peak hours has always been very low, less than 1%, which clearly means that the SNS has fulfilled its role even in this most difficult period, and this naturally gives us favorable expectations for the future,” the company’s chief executive said. Lusa was informed about this by SNS, recalling that within the framework of Operation Safe Birth in SNS – Summer 2023, complementary agreements were signed with three private organizations.

In a preliminary overview of the operation, Fernando Araujo stated that “it was a difficult process due to the vacation of specialists and many other problems that occurred during this period,” such as strikes, but emphasized that “despite all this, the Operation was very calm and orderly “

According to Fernando Araujo, predictability in terms of open and functioning places remains “very high, which gives and certainly gives confidence to pregnant women and security to professionals.”

“Despite this most difficult period, we believe that the response provided by professionals and institutions has certainly guaranteed quality care for pregnant women, and the figures demonstrate this, especially in the Tagus Valley region. [LVT]“The most difficult region where the number of births occurring in the SNA has increased,” he said.

Between January and August, 16,155 births were registered in the LVT (excluding births in the Centro Hospitalar do Oeste, whose maternity unit is integrated into the Centro Hospitalar de Leiria, which belongs to the central region), plus about 500 births (+3.2%) compared with the same period in 2022.

Regarding how the concentration of the gynecology/obstetrics service at the Santa Maria Hospital, which is undergoing expansion, at the San Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon, is happening, Fernando Araujo said that “there were no problems in terms of response.” , emphasizing the commitment of healthcare workers.

“Some of them didn’t agree with the decision, but they always did their duty, they were always on teams and responded very well, and so I would say that the installation process at San Francisco Xavier is ongoing at this point. very calm,” he said, emphasizing that the assessment is “positive” at the moment.

Asked whether the announced departure of six obstetricians from the Santa Maria hospital could complicate this operation, Fernando Araujo replied that “the plan is solid” and will be assessed. “It will be prepared for the coming months, but we do not think these possible deviations will put it at risk,” he said.

The executive director of SNS emphasized that the hospital centers of Northern Lisbon (Santa Maria) and Western Lisbon (San Francisco Xavier) “are very strong institutions, they are services with history, competence and professional knowledge that give us the guarantee that when they are together , in this case, the answers always have enormous reliability, they are always differentiated answers,” especially in the most difficult cases.

When asked whether Operation Born Safe will continue, Fernando Araujo responded that it is being assessed with institutions as this period has passed, noting that executive decisions are “always based on participation and dialogue with institutions and professionals ”

“So the decision that will be made at the end of this month on this new phase of the plan (…) will always be a very informed, very difficult decision, so that later, naturally, it will lead to the ground, as it has happened so far,” – said Fernando Araujo.