Júlio Nóbrega guarantees that greater demand for health services has not yet led to the cancellation of surgeries due to lack of beds.
The public hospitals in the Region have already exhausted their inpatient capacity. This was noted by the clinical director of the Regional Health Service (SESARAM) early this afternoon.
Júlio Nóbrega once again confirmed the greater influx of patients, which has been a constant in recent days, registering some peaks in demand, relating to the increase in respiratory infections usual at this time of year. As in all cases, situations become serious due to underlying health problems or the age of the patient and due to the fragility of their condition, this has led to a greater need for hospitalisation for more appropriate treatment.
The exhaustion of SESARAM’s inpatient capacity also contributes to the “social situations” or ‘problematic discharges.’ Today, Tuesday the 7th, 218 patients were clinically discharged but reminded either hospitalised at Hospital dos Marmeleiros or Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. Yesterday, that number was 232. Other patients have been hospitalised in São Vicente, Santana, Hospital João de Almada, or other health centres with inpatient capacity.
“Unfortunately, this limits are hospitalisation capacity. Therefore those who come into A & E and need hospitalisation have to wait until there is a bed free, explaining why so many patients are lying on trolleys in hospital corridors. Figures suggest that 60 people have been left in these conditions over the past couple of weeks.
Even so, Júlio Nóbrega refuses to talk about chaos. He points out that although there are still some stretchers in the corridors of the Emergency Department, there is no disorganisation, as a chaotic situation presupposes. “We have an influx of patients that is expected for the season,” referring to the 361 patients treated in the hospital’s Emergency Department yesterday, reinforcing that the problem lies in the lack of beds available for hospitalisation.
The doctor once again recommended vaccination against the flu, even at this time when the campaign has already been in the field for more than three months, as the vaccine can prevent the disease and reduce its severity.
