Since the beginning of the year, more than 340 beds in continuing care units have been closed due to a “financial stranglehold” on those facilities, the National Continuing Care Association warned this Wednesday, conceding that they could close more by the end of the year.
The president of the association, José Bourdain, who was heard this Wednesday at the Health Commission at the request of the Chega party about the difficulties faced by the branches of continuous integrated care, ensured that all branches closed last year were closed due to the difficulty of financial institutions, pointing out on insufficient amounts paid by the state due, above all, to an increase in the costs of institutions.
“For 2023, we had an indication that the Casa da Criança do Rogil in the Algarve would close this year (…). Since there were three more in the north, one of them with two types, to close before underfunding in three weeks, a total of 342 beds,” the person in charge said.
When asked by MPs about the statements of members of the National Coordinating Commission of the National Continuing Integrated Care Network, who were also heard this Wednesday in the same commission and who said that not all institutions closed due to financial difficulties, he replied: “One of them, which mine, it closed due to lack of nurses (…). Despite requests on the net, I did not open it again because it caused me severe losses.
“So the reason for the closure is actually financial. Not the lack of nurses, because today they already have,” he added.
Regarding the financial difficulties of long-term care units, José Bourdain read an “e-mail” from a 150-year-old associated institution that is undergoing a special rehabilitation program at the financial level, and which confirms that the situation in terms of the residential structure for the elderly (ERPI) and continuing care is “very sensitive” and is therefore considering closing if the state’s contribution is not considered.
“We did not do this during the pandemic because, despite the difficulties, we knew that it would not be fair to the users who use our quality services, nor to the National Health Service, to which we are proud to contribute our contribution. , but at the moment the situation is very complicated,” the “e-mail” read by the person in charge says.
Insisting that the amount paid by the state, despite last year’s updates, is not enough to cover the costs of institutions, he cited the example of his head office in Sintra with 49 beds for medium-term and 10 beds for long-term.
“According to the law, there should be 50 specialists, and I have 70. Required specialists [pela rede] insufficient for the care that patients need,” the official said, giving an example: “There is no provision for network, kitchen, laundry, cleaning, pharmaceutical or administrative personnel by law.”
Highlighting the difficulties these institutions face, José Bourdain also referred to the “scheme or maroshka” used by those who refer users with pressure ulcers to these institutions.
“The legislation says that bedsores are paid in long-term therapy departments, so they are sent to a medium-term department in order not to pay the corresponding amount and departments that treat patients for free,” he said.
Added to this, he emphasized, is that these people, who are in the parts of the medium stay, but many of whom must be in the parts of the long stay, since they do not have the possibility of recovery, occupy places that would be necessary for those whom, for example, a cerebral vascular accident (CVA).
“If a person has had a stroke and needs constant care to recover, they run the risk of staying in bed, addicted because they can’t get into the mid-term unit because someone with no recovery potential who needs to be in a long-term unit duration, takes up space,” he explained.
Regarding the increase in the government’s contribution determined last year, he said it was not enough as “the network is already underfunded” and highlighted the “violent inflation” the divisions had to face, with gas bills increasing by 500% and by 200% . energy.
“There was support from companies, but we stayed on the sidelines,” he lamented.
The official also referred to the pandemic period, stressing that the state budget does not provide for an increase for two years of continuous care.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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