The Regional Secretary for Health confirmed today that the Health Service Ombudsperson is an entity created to promote quality and transparency that people can turn to without fear of reprisal.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new Health Service Ombudsman premises, Miguel Correia said that sometimes patients do not complain for fear of reprisal, but he stressed that "there cannot be reprisals to a patient lodging a complain."

"If patients do not wish to lodge the complaint at the health unit, they may do so at the Health Service Ombudsperson premises, or via letter or email, in a form specifically designed for that purpose."

The Secretary for Health said that "we have a good health service, compared to what one heard and reads every day about the national health system." This situation is evidenced by the decreasing number of complaints. According to a survey on patient satisfaction, the vast majority said that they were satisfied with the health services provided in the Region."
 
"However there is the notion that it is possible to improve further certain aspects and, talking directly to people, we understand that it often costs little to satisfy patients' claims; in many cases, changing attendance timetable or the place of delivery of medical tests is enough."

The Secretary for Health urged the Ombudsperson - who is now provided with its own premises - to focus on a close contact with patients "because this a good way to easily understand where and how we can effectively boost the quality and satisfaction level of the Regional Health Service."

Miguel Correia said that, on his part, he also plans to develop initiative that promote a close contact with the population - as it he did in previous years - asking directly to the people which aspects need to be improved.

Regarding the complaints lodged so far have, the vast majority concern the emergency services, where people feel more anxious, and the shortage of general practitioners.

With regard to the latter, the Secretary for Health said that "there were 80 thousand Azoreans without general practitioner in the beginning of this legislative period; there are currently 36 thousand Azoreans in these circumstances."

"There has been a very considerable effort in the provision of general practitioners, either through the training of interns at Healthcare Units or the hiring foreign doctors."

"In 2012 we will have all the conditions to significantly reduce the complaints regarding the lack of general practitioners," said Miguel Correia.