Emergency surgery in Leiria is closed from Thursday to Monday.

Emergency surgery in Leiria will be closed from Thursday to Monday, a source at the National Federation of Doctors (Fnam) confirmed to Lusa, as a result of doctors refusing to exceed 150 hours of overtime.

At the Santo André hospital, which is part of the Hospital Center of Leiria (CHL), the specialized emergency surgery service will not be available from this Thursday evening until next Monday morning, director Sandra Hilario of Fnam in Leiria told Lusa, adding that “it is assumed that, at least on the remaining Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays of this month the same thing will happen.”

A Leiria surgeon recently told Lusa that Leiria Hospital doctors, who mainly specialize in surgery, cardiology and pediatrics, will exercise their right by law in October to refuse overtime work exceeding 150 hours.

“In the surgical service, we already received calls in April, but only from October will doctors be able to fully take advantage of this right. Between 90 and 95% of physicians will exercise their legal right to refuse 150 hours of overtime. In pediatrics, all colleagues exercise this right, and there will be eight nights without cardiology in the emergency department,” said a representative of the FNAM.

Also in the internal medicine specialty, Sandra Hilario says, “there are several colleagues who have already submitted projects.”

“In cardiology, this is a concern because there are green routes, namely the coronary green route,” he warned, noting that in pediatrics it was possible to carry out the scales, but without following “what is prescribed by the Order of Physicians as a minimum.” Recommendations from emergency specialists,” he emphasized.

The union leader said the restrictions also apply to the emergency obstetrics department, “which has already been closed for several days this month due to a lack of vacancies in the hospital, as well as staff shortages.”

Sandra Hilario also assured that “the population is the focus of Fnam and the doctors.”

“We want to feel rested and be able to observe and treat our patients well. Therefore, we cannot become completely tired,” he emphasized.

The KHL is working to find “better solutions” in response to doctors’ refusal to exceed 150 hours of overtime, the institution told news agency Lusa.

“The KHL confirms receipt of applications from specialists regarding the right to legally refuse to exceed 150 hours of overtime,” said a source on the board of directors of the hospital center.

In a written response to Lusa last week, the board said it was “working with clinical and service leadership to identify the best solutions to respond to the current challenges faced by scale doctors in emergency services.” “.

The goal, he emphasizes, is “to ensure the safety and quality of care provided to patients.”