The pediatric emergency room at the Beatriz Angelo (HBO) hospital in Loures will reopen over the weekend, a time yet to be determined, the mayor of the municipality, Ricardo Leão, said on Tuesday.
According to the mayor, the guarantee was given by Health Minister Manuel Pizarro to the mayors of Loures, Odivelas, Mafra and Sobral de Monte Agraço, municipalities in the Lisbon area served by the unit, after a meeting in the capital. on the closure of this service at night and on weekends, effective from last week.
At the end of the meeting, accompanied by his fellow mayors, Ricardo Leao (PS) told reporters that a solution had been found “considered by all to be a breakthrough”, recalling that the meeting’s “great goal” was to explain the final closure of the pediatric ambulance.
“There is already progress. The minister committed to evaluate and announce on Tuesday a temporary decision to reopen this weekend emergency, which is now closed for the entire weekend,” he said.
The official also added that the minister had given guarantees that he “may extend” the schedule a little during the week and that there would be “adjustments” over the weekend.
“The schedule that is set during the week is maintained over the weekend,” he stressed, stressing that this is “a path that needs to be worked on.”
Ricardo Leão recalled that the problems at the HBA are not limited to paediatrics, adding that the Minister of Health has pledged to meet “within this month” with four mayors to “present solutions and ways to improve what is important for everyone, which is health care. “.
When asked if the decision involves a public-private partnership, as happened in the past, the socialist explained that the minister “does not have any reservations about this.”
“But let’s face it, the creation of a public-private partnership takes time – at least two to three years,” he recalled.
According to Ricardo Leao, the minister “will have to resort to all the tools at his disposal”, and it will be Manuel Pizarro who will present a “very short-term solution”.
“The decision is not to everyone’s liking, but it is a step that needs to be taken to resolve the situation,” he repeated, adding that the opening would probably not take place this weekend.
“Today there will be a meeting, and I think the minister will report on it,” he said.
This is a plan for the regular operation of pediatric emergency departments in the Lisbon metropolitan area, which the government promised to present this week.
The Executive Board of the National Health Service (DE-SNS) and leaders of 12 hospitals in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley are meeting on Tuesday to approve the document.
Since last Wednesday, the pediatric emergency room at Loures Hospital has only been open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, due to a shortage of pediatricians.
The decision to close resulted in unanimous approval of the challenge motions in the Loures and Mafra Chambers.
Meanwhile, HBA general emergency team leaders have resigned due to a lack of conditions that they say jeopardize the safety of patients and professionals.
The government promised to present this week a plan for the regular operation of pediatric emergency departments throughout the Lisbon metropolitan area.
The population that goes to the pediatric emergency department at the HBA must start using the services that remain open, such as Santa Maria Hospital, Dona Estefania Hospital or San Francisco Xavier Hospital, all in Lisbon, a municipality adjacent to Loures.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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