Visits to patients in the Emergency Department at Dr Nélio Mendonça Hospital have been temporarily suspended due to the high number of people currently using the service, SESARAM confirmed to DIÁRIO.
The situation was brought to the newspaper’s attention yesterday by relatives of patients receiving treatment in the department. One family member said the restrictions had been in place for several days and that, in some cases, relatives had been given little notice of the suspension.
Another relative, whose mother has Alzheimer’s disease and is in the Emergency Department, expressed concern that she was unable to accompany her or obtain information about her condition. She claimed that information could only be provided in person due to data protection requirements.
In response, SESARAM explained that the suspension had been introduced by its clinical and nursing directorates to help manage patient numbers and clinical activity, while ensuring patients’ safety and allowing healthcare professionals to provide care under appropriate conditions.
A total of 51 patients are currently waiting to be admitted to beds within the relevant specialist departments, in addition to those continuing to arrive at and be assessed in the Emergency Department.
The suspension generally applies to all patients in the department. However, SESARAM said that situations involving particularly vulnerable patients would continue to be safeguarded, with exceptional cases assessed individually according to each patient’s specific needs.
The measure is temporary, and the usual visiting periods, from 12:30 to 13:00 and from 19:30 to 20:00, will resume as soon as conditions allow.
SESARAM added that the Family Support Office remains the main point of contact for information about a patient’s clinical condition. Information may be provided either in person or by telephone, once the identity of the person making the request and their relationship to the patient have been confirmed, ensuring privacy and confidentiality are maintained.
Relatives seeking information should contact the Family Support Office, which will assess and direct each enquiry accordingly.
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