The Minister of Health has described the rotating operation of maternity hospitals in Lisbon and Tagus Valley and in the Algarve as “a beautiful alternative” to their definitive closure, rejecting criticism from the opposition about the unpredictability of the adopted model.
“We have a rotating operating model in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley and in the Algarve, which is imposed on us by the shortage of professionals. This is a beautiful alternative to the definitive closure of these maternity hospitals. That would be a serious mistake and a serious loss for the population and for the formation of new resources”, said Manuel Pizarro in parliament.
“Six months have passed with the model in operation and the truth is that we have demonstrated that we managed to get all public maternity hospitals up and running. In the North, Center and now also in the Alentejo regions, where last year it was not possible to guarantee this”, said Manuel Pizarro.
According to the minister, the 'rotating' model adopted allows pregnant women to be assured that the birthing departments work with “quality, safety and predictability”.
On the other hand, IL MP (Liberal Initiative Party) Joana Cordeiro defended that the Government's “Born Safely” plan “does not give the slightest predictability to pregnant women, who do not know where their children will be born”.
BE deputy Joana Mortágua, accused the Government of “a pregnant woman not knowing whether a maternity hospital will be open on the day she goes into labour”, or if the “appropriate follow-up throughout the pregnancy” will be available. “Years of explaining to health teams, pregnant women, families, that it is necessary to humanise childbirth. As well as encouraging women and services to make birth plans, to combat obstetric violence, and now they are worthless ”, she criticised.
Source https://postal.pt
