The National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) today reached 1.5 million calls answered at the Urgent Patient Guidance Centers (CODU), a figure in line with data recorded in the last two years, this national body announced.
In a statement, INEM – the body of the Ministry of Health responsible for coordinating the operation, in the territory of Mainland Portugal, of an Integrated Medical Emergency System – states that, in 2024, CODU answered 4,120 calls per day, around 171 calls per hour.
In total, there are 1.5 million calls, including those received via 112 for assistance to victims of accidents or sudden illnesses, triage requests from partners in the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIEM), and calls transferred directly by SNS24 line.
“INEM recalls the importance of appropriate use of emergency services and calls for the collaboration of contactants during calls”, reinforces the institute, which takes the opportunity to clarify that calls made to the European Emergency Number, 112, are answered first. in the 112 Operational Centers, managed by the Security Forces.
Subsequently, 112 forwards all situations that concern health to the INEM CODU, with the INEM medical center being responsible for evaluating all requests received, with the aim of determining the necessary and appropriate resources for each occurrence.
CODUs operate 24 hours a day with teams of professionals, including pre-hospital emergency technicians, doctors, nurses and psychologists.
“Citizen collaboration is fundamental”, highlights INEM.
Callers are advised to provide the exact location and, whenever possible, indicating landmarks, the telephone number from which they are calling, the type of situation (illness, accident, childbirth, for example), number, gender and apparent age of people needing help, as well as, if possible, the main complaints and changes you observe.
INEM also reinforces that pre-hospital medical emergency resources should only be used in emergency situations, that is, situations where there is imminent danger to life. .
If it is not necessary to send an ambulance or any other means of emergency, calls will be forwarded to SNS24, which will provide appropriate advice to the situation.
“The year that is now ending was filled with several challenges for INEM, overcome with the dedication of its professionals, with the collaboration of its partners, but also of citizens, who every day reinforce their confidence in the services provided by the institute”, ends the statement.
Source: rr.sapo.pt
