Population protests against lack of emergency surgery in Mirandela

This Saturday, around 500 users demonstrated at the Mirandela Hospital in a living cordon against the temporary closure of the medical-surgical emergency service, in a protest organized by the municipality.

Since October 8, no emergency operations have been performed in this department because doctors refused to work overtime beyond the 150 hours required by law.

Human resources are concentrated in a hospital in Bragança, the capital of the district where patients are referred, about 60 kilometers away.

Among the protesters, who held signs with messages such as “urgent surgery”, “more than 60 km is not an option” or “no ambulance waiting”, was Irene da Conceição, 79, a former hospital cleaner.

“They have already taken the maternity ward, they have taken the surgical rooms for Braganza… I think what is happening is bad,” he told Lusa.

And he gave an example: “I’m really from here, I feel bad, I need emergency help, ambulances don’t go anywhere anymore. It’s here! My whole life is here!” he emphasized.

Rosa Simão was with Irene. “The operation is necessary here in Mirandela. Because the journey from here to Braganza is a long way and lives can be lost. 60 kilometers can make a difference,” she said when asked about the reason why she went. her to join the demonstration.

Carla Serrano is a hospital assistant in the internal medicine department. This Saturday he joined the users. “I believe that unity is strength, and it is unacceptable to take away a service that is sorely lacking in Mirandela and those around her. Let’s see if we can make a difference. And this is a strategic place where it is needed,” he explained.

Sonia Costa was another protester because she doesn’t want “there to be a closure.” “Here, unfortunately, everything was taken away from us,” he lamented to Lusa.

A small platform with a sound system was installed next to the hospital, from where a manifesto on the reasons for the protest was read out to the applause and applause of those listening.

In addition to the immediate return of emergency surgery services, the need for, among other things, the creation of a mother and child center, strengthening of medical teams or an increase in pre-hospital emergency care resources.

After this, the participants, holding hands, walked around the hospital and part of the building where the demonstration ended.

Some local organizations were also present, such as the Moto Clube de Mirandela or the Scouts.

Mirandela Hospital is part of the Northeast Local Health Unit. Its main area of ​​​​operation is the south of the Bragança region. In addition to Mirandela, it serves Vila Flor, Carraseda de Anciaes, Torre de Moncorvo and Alfandega da Fe. According to the latest censuses, these municipalities of Trás os Montes are home to approximately 44 thousand inhabitants.