Ministry alerts for possible absenteeism and calls for reinforcement of SNS

A Executive Board of the SNS today recommended to health units to evaluate the possible absenteeism of professionals and strengthen resources in emergency services and primary health care, given the worsening of the state of time.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health states that due to depression Charles scheduled for Wednesday it was recommended to the Local Health Units (ULS) that “they assess the possible absenteeism of professionals and ensure the full operationality of emergency services and permanent care to populations, with reinforcement of resources, both in hospitals and primary health care”.

In coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Executive Board also reinforced with the ULS, the Portuguese Oncology Institutes and the Hospital de Cascais “the recommendation for the adoption of preventive measures that safeguard the safety of users and professionals and ensure the continuity of the care activity”.

Health authorities shall also recommend to local health units to assess the evolution of the situation in their respective territories and to adopt measures which they consider most appropriate.

Several ULS in the country implemented exceptional measures that imply changes to care activities, with the aim of safeguarding the safety of users and professionals and ensuring the ability to respond to clinical situations of greater severity and urgency.

In the early afternoon, the president of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators criticized Lusa for the lack of equal guidance for all ULS in the country due to bad weather.

Continental Portugal is on alert between 00:00 and 23:59 Wednesday, due to the possible worsening of the state of time with the arrival of depression Charles, it is expected that Lisbon, Leiria, Setúbal, Beja and Faro will be the most affected regions.

The government has decided to close non-essential schools and public services in all districts, and the authorities have admitted to closing bridges and air traffic restrictions.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), “the occurrence of heavy rain or shower periods, strong wind, with gusts that can reach 120 kilometers/hour and, in case of formation of the phenomenon ‘sting jet’ (air current that quickly descends inside an extratropical depression, accelerating towards the surface), exceed 150 kilometers/hour”.

Red weather warnings (the maximum level) were issued for the continent, for Wednesday, and also for Madeira, as of tonight. In the archipelago the schools will be closed in the morning.