The Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) has ordered a misdemeanor action against Braga Hospital for failure to comply with the Maximum Guaranteed Response Time (TMRG) when scheduling a fertility support consultation, as announced on Tuesday.
According to discussions posted in the 4th quarter of last year, published on Tuesday, December 2020, a user asked to schedule a fertility support consultation due to a serious health problem (deep endometriosis), being informed that it was on 28 February 2022.
The meeting will be canceled on the same day as it has been consecutively rescheduled for April 18, May 30, July 18 and June 1.
On this last day, the user received a new message informing them that the scheduled meeting was canceled without further rescheduling.
In its initial submissions, the Hospital de Braga cited that, given the nature of this type of consultation, it was not possible to have more than one element associated with it, as well as more hours to respond to a request, “which resulted in a significant delay in appointments.”
He also said that due to various restrictions on the service during the year, it was necessary to reschedule numerous consultation periods in order to visit the Emergency Services.
He explains that the cancellations relating to May 30 and July 18 are due to the departure of the doctor and the fact that it was not immediately possible to appoint another specialist for this consultation.
On August 31, 2022, and after ERS requested clarification on the status of the medical follow-up provided to the user, the hospital stated that for initial consultations, it was still unable to provide a schedule forecast. “We are in the process of hiring medical workers, we hope to respond quickly in this area,” he said.
Thus, the ERS determined from the outset that a misdemeanor proceeding would be initiated for non-compliance with the TMRG.
He also proposed “regulatory measures to bring the operation of the hospital into compliance with strict and full compliance with all rules established in the legal framework regarding the legally applicable maximum guaranteed response time.”
ERS urges the hospital to “at all times ensure that the provision of medical care respects the legitimate rights and interests of users, namely the right to adequate and technically more correct care, which must be provided in an integrated manner.” manner, humanely, with respect for the patient, promptly and within a medically acceptable time frame, in accordance with the law.
He also says that the hospital must “ensure that all procedures adopted by it are capable of providing complete, reliable and understandable information to all users on aspects related to monitoring and existing alternatives in the National Health Service (SNS) to ensure proper access adapted to their clinical condition.
“Whenever it is confirmed that there is no installed capacity in any type of valency, [o hospital deve] diligently proceed to take the necessary measures to ensure the provision of the necessary medical care, so as not to impair its quality and timeliness, namely by referral and transfer of users to other units of the SNS”, adds the discussion of ERS.
A recommendation was also made to the Regional Health Authority of the North, in cooperation with the Hospital de Braga, to implement mechanisms to guarantee the effectiveness of the right of access for users awaiting advice on fertility support.”
In response to Lusa’s appeal, Hospital de Braga said they regret the inconvenience caused to users, adding that “in addition to accepting the ERS recommendations, they will remain firmly committed to improving the quality and efficiency of services provided to users.”
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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