“We’re going to evaluate everything, we’re going to evaluate the bracelet system, we’re going to evaluate how it was possible for it to be removed and we’re going to do as many tests as we can.”Luís da Cruz Matos assured journalists.
A four-month-old baby was removed by her mother from the Pediatrics ward at the Gaia hospital on Wednesday, after managing to remove her electronic bracelet, which emits an alarm if they go beyond the service doors, is damaged or cut, after being informed by the court that the child would be handed over to a foster family.
The electronic bracelet was found intact in the trash can in the bathroom of the room where the child was hospitalized.
“We have to learn from here so that this does not happen again, this cannot happen again, we will not let this happen again and, therefore, we will take all the lessons from here”he said.
Luís da Cruz Matos insisted that the hospital is evaluating everything that happened and how the mother managed to remove the baby’s bracelet.
The security systems were working, so much so that the electronic bracelet itself was tested, after being found, and was working normally, explained the president.
“The bracelet, if it had been damaged or cut, the alarm would go off immediately, so it was taken off, I don’t know how, I can’t imagine how, but I suppose with some work”specified.
The President of the Board of Directors of ULS de Gaia/Espinho ruled out any error on the part of health professionals because the situation occurs at a time when there is a nursing shift change and in a ward that is very large.
Luís da Cruz Matos highlighted that these electronic bracelets are placed on all newborns and babies and have a radio system that detects whenever there is movement.
“In fact, all movements are monitored and if you pass through the doors, there is an alarm that goes off.”he pointed out.
Luís da Cruz Matos highlighted that the hospital opened an investigation and hopes to have these conclusions “very soon”.
The child, who had been hospitalized since the end of November, was visited daily by his mother or grandmother because there was no court order preventing the family from being present, he added.
The court case, which involved the baby, was not related to “any type of illegal act” by the family, said Luís da Cruz Matos.
A PSP/Porto source told the Lusa agency this Thursday that it is investigating the situation, through the criminal investigation division, adding that, at this moment, is taking steps to find the mother and baby.
According to the same source, there is currently no new information about the case. At issue may be the commission of a crime of abduction of minorshe added.