ULS de Viseu Dão-Lafões e da Guarda postpone surgeries

Alocal health units (ULS) of Viseu Dão-Lafões and Guarda decided to change the format of some consultations and not perform outpatient surgeries on Wednesday, due to the passage of depression Charles, was announced today.

In a statement sent to the agency Lusa, the ULS of Viseu Dão-Lafões (ULSVDL) reported that, in primary health care, the scheduled consultations “will, whenever possible, be carried out by the non-personnel route, or rescheduled”.

Still, the health units will keep the working hours, “with total availability for care”.

“ In hospital health care, face-to-face consultations, MCDT (analyses and examinations) and scheduled non-urgent surgeries of patients with subsequent rescheduling are unscheduled,” he said.

Ambulatory surgery and non-priority surgeries involving the displacement of users are also suspended.

In home hospitalization, new admissions are suspended.

According to the institution, “oncology consultations, treatments and MCDTs are maintained, priority day-hospital sessions, patients’ surgeries already admitted, and priority and urgent surgeries”.

“ These measures are aimed at safeguarding users and professionals, while at the same time releasing many operatives from the Fire Departments and the Red Cross transporting users, and are thus available for support and assistance to the population, if necessary,” stressed ULSVDL, which reinforced “the call for the population to move only to effectively urgent situations”.

The Guard ULS decided to carry out the consultations scheduled for Wednesday in teleconsultation format.

“ The scheduled outpatient surgeries were unscheduled, maintaining priority and oncologic surgeries, as well as the other surgeries as defined by the ULS ", the institution advanced in a statement sent to the agency Lusa.

The Guard ULS added that the collection points of clinical analysis of Meda and Trancoso will be closed.

“The offices of Vila Nova de Foz Côa (primary health care building and SUB) and Sousa Martins Hospital in Guarda will be kept in operation for users who can move safely.”.

In Imagiology, users will be able to attend scheduled examinations, “as long as the journeys are carried out safely”.

“ The tests that cannot be performed will be urgently rescheduled,” ULS said.

On Wednesday, primary health care units in the area covered by the ULS will remain open and consultations and tests that cannot be performed on the day will also be urgently rescheduled.

Because of the strong wind forecast for the highest city, the ULS of Guarda also recommends that “it does not circulate, nor park, next to the large trees existing in the Health Park, especially between 12:00 and 9:00 on Wednesday”.

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.