The Regional Secretary for Health, Miguel Correia, announced on Friday that the Government's intention to decentralise medical consultations made at Ponta Delgada SAU (urgent care service) to other health units on São Miguel.

 Miguel Correia spoke during the opening session of the 12th Azores General Practitioners Conference, held in Ponta Delgada, and informed that the relocation of the doctors currently working at SAU will enable the access of patients without general practitioner to public consultations at 15 health units in the municipalities of Ponta Delgada and Lagoa.

Thus, the Azorean Government aims to reduce false hospital emergencies through the promotion of the access to general practice consultations for patients without general practitioner at the health unit of their area of residence. The attendance hours will be extended for the convenience of citizens," stressed the Regional Secretary for Health.

 With this change, we estimate 792 consultations on a weekly basis, which is 800 consultations per week. This measure will boost health gains for the population and the maintenance of jobs.

 On the occasion, the government official mentioned other ongoing solutions to increase the number of Azoreans with general practitioners, such as negotiation of the Collective Labour Agreement, which is expected to increase doctors' patient lists.

 Moreover, Miguel Correia also stressed that the Government has made unprecedented investments in new health centres, including the Graciosa health unit to be opened soon, the Madalena unit, whose works start next week, and the new Ponta Delgada Health Centre, which is at a tender stage.