In a response to Lusa agency, the administration of Fernando Fonseca Hospital (Amadora-Sintra) indicates that the “transfer between the hospitals of the NHS of pregnant users is a situation that occurs whenever clinically necessary and follows the rules of guaranteeing the safety of users.”

In the case of the baby who died, the woman, 32 weeks pregnant, was transferred from Faro Hospital, for reasons that neither Amadora-Sintra nor the Ministry of Health have made explicit.

The Correio da Manhã reported the death of the baby, stating that the pregnant woman was transferred due to insufficient means given her clinical condition.

Sources linked to the case also confirmed to the Lusa agency that the pregnant woman had a condition of preeclampsia, which translates into hypertension in pregnancy and detachment of the placenta.

The hospital assured that the procedures have already been verified by a “summary check carried out”. “The patient was informed of the complexity of the clinical situation by health professionals and involved in the decision made. Despite all efforts, the seriousness of the clinical situation led to the death of the newborn, a fact that we deeply regret” says Amadora-Sintra’s reply sent to Lusa.

“The Ministry of Health has been monitoring the situation and has learned from hospitals that all appropriate health care procedures have been followed. The Ministry of Health deeply regrets the death of the baby” said the Ministry in a response to Lusa.

The Ministry does not indicate whether or not and inquiry or investigation will be opened into this situation.

The Order of Doctors and medical unions have been warning of insufficient resources in midwifery services in the south of the country, and the president of the southern section of the Order has indicated that pregnant women are “jumping from hospital to hospital” with maternities running on half-gas.