O body of the Ministry of Health justifies the time with the distance to the base and ensures that there were no difficulties in activating emergency resources.
One in Abrantes, after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest outside the Tramagal train station, in a case that raises questions about emergency response times.
According to information provided by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), the call to 112 was answered by the Urgent Patient Guidance Center (CODU) at 7:30 am, with the occurrence being classified as Priority 1 (P1) – Emergency.
The Emergency and Resuscitation Medical Vehicle (VMER) was called at 7:32 am and the Abrantes Volunteer Firefighters at 7:34 am.
In a statement, INEM emphasizes that the VMER arrival time is “compatible with the distance to the base of the means”, pointing to around 18 minutes of travel to the Tramagal train station.
The institute further clarifies that “The times associated with each priority are international reference targets that serve as guidance for the response, and maximum times are not guaranteed”.
INEM’s new priority system, in force since the beginning of the year, establishes that situations classified as P1, associated with an immediate risk to life, must have emergency services on site within eight minutes.
For P2 (Very urgent) occurrences, the reference time is 18 minutes; for P3 (Urgent), up to 60 minutes; and for P4 (Least urgent), up to 120 minutes. P5 situations do not involve the sending of emergency resources, being forwarded to the SNS24 Line.
INEM assured that, in this case, “there were no difficulties in activating or making resources available” and deeply regretted what happened, offering condolences to the victim’s family.
INEM’s response:
“INEM clarifies that the call to 112 was answered by CODU at 7:30 am and classified as Priority 1 – Emergency, with VMER being called at 7:32 am and the Fire Department at 7:34 am.
At 7:45 am, cardiorespiratory arrest was reported, and telephone clinical monitoring continued. VMER arrived at the location at 7:53 am, a time compatible with the distance from the base (around 18 minutes to Tramagal train station).
The times associated with each priority are international reference targets that serve as guidance for the response, and maximum times are not guaranteed.
There were no difficulties in activating or making resources available. INEM deeply regrets what happened and extends its condolences to the victim’s family.”
