José Manuel Bolieiro highlights investment to increase continuing care capacity in Ponta Delgada by 31% - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, visited the site of the expansion and refurbishment works on the third floor of the former Ponta Delgada Hospital last Monday. This is an investment by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Ponta Delgada (charity) that has upgraded the Integrated Continuing Care Unit (UCCI) and significantly increased its bed capacity.

The project increased the number of Long-term and Maintenance care beds from 42 to 55, representing a 31% increase in installed capacity, thereby strengthening the response to the population’s growing needs against a backdrop of demographic ageing and rising demand for continuing care.

José Manuel Bolieiro praised the institution’s historic role and the service it has provided to the community over several decades.

“This is a project that will result in a service designed to provide high-quality care and greater availability for those who need it most. I would like to highlight the work carried out by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Ponta Delgada over the years for the benefit of its users and their families,” he said.

The head of the Azorean Government also emphasised that this investment reflects his Government’s strategy towards strengthening social and health services, always in close cooperation with social economy institutions.

“We are working to ensure that tomorrow is better than today, given that today is already better than yesterday. It is encouraging to see our institutions, particularly those dedicated to social solidarity, working in a complementary manner with the Regional Health Service to provide better care for the Azorean population,” he emphasised.

José Manuel Bolieiro also highlighted the importance of the Regional Integrated Continuing Care Network and the coordination between the different levels of care provision.

“We have been seeking to develop a policy that makes healthcare increasingly accessible and of higher quality, whilst also prioritising health education. It is essential that we continue to strengthen this integrated care network and ensure the complementary nature of the services available, so that we can respond, in an increasingly personalised manner, to the overall needs of the population,” he concluded.

The UCCI project was supported through Cooperation Investment Value Contract no. 83/2020, for a maximum amount of €2.3 million, covering not only the refurbishment and modernisation of the third floor of the former Ponta Delgada Hospital but also the general refurbishment of the institution’s laundry facilities. The investment helped to make the spaces more patient-centred as well as to improve comfort, privacy and the quality of care provided.

With this project, the Regional Government reinforces its commitment to enhancing the Regional Continuing and Palliative Care Network, promoting more patient-centred, accessible and appropriate responses to the needs of the Azorean population.

Also present during the visit were the Ombudsman of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Ponta Delgada, Américo Natalino Viveiros, the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, and the Mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, alongside other representatives and officials from the health, social welfare and local government sectors.