Urgent Audit Launched After Child Sent to Closed Hospital in Portugal

Internal Audit by SPMS

The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS) has initiated an internal audit to investigate the circumstances surrounding a child's referral to a closed emergency service by an operator from the SNS24 hotline. Minister Ana Paula Martins announced that results will be available soon, emphasizing that there were communication issues between the hospital and the SNS24 line.

Incident Details

A child's mother reported that after waiting for one and a half hours to receive assistance from SNS24, she was instructed to take her child to the Torres Vedras Hospital, which was confirmed to be closed according to the ULS Oeste website. Despite being informed of the closure, she was urged to go there by SNS24, leading her to seek care 40 kilometers away at another health facility.

Communication Breakdown

Minister Martins highlighted the apparent failure in communication between the hospital and the hotline, stressing the need for accurate information to be entered into the system. This ensures that operators can prioritize and direct patients appropriately based on their location and the services available.

Christmas Emergency Services

During the Christmas holiday, 13 emergency services were either closed or operating under restrictions, causing wait times of over eight hours in some cases. The executive director of SNS, António Gandra d'Almeida, assured that all necessary measures were taken to address the public's urgent and emergency needs. Despite efforts to hire available medical professionals, gaps in staffing led to service closures.

The Ministry of Health is currently compiling a report on the situation during the 23rd to 25th of December, comparing it to previous years to better understand the challenges faced.

Public Assurance

Despite the challenges, Minister Martins expressed confidence in the healthcare system, stating that understanding where the failures lie is crucial for implementing corrections. The focus remains on improving responses to ensure that no patient is left without care during critical times.