The Santa Catarina state government has announced the expansion of 122 intensive care beds (Intensive Care Units) for child care. The Friday (15) announcement features solutions to the state’s pediatric care crisis.

Santa Catarina announced the expansion of 122 intensive care beds for children. – Photo: Paulo Goeth/Government of South Carolina/Disclosure/North Dakota

Among the measures announced is the suspension of holidays and vacations for teams, a measure in place at the Joan de Gusmão Children’s Hospital in Florianópolis. The measures were detailed by Health Minister Aldo Baptista along with pulmonologist Marcio Giudice at a press conference.

The situation with the shortage of child care beds was exacerbated by the death of two children at the Joana de Gusmão Children’s Hospital in Florianópolis. Evidence points to the lack of vacancies in the intensive care unit as an aggravating factor.

Related to the case, the TCE/SC (Santa Catarina State Accountability Office) launched an investigation on Friday identifying five mismanagement by the SES (State Department of Health) in Greater Florianopolis hospitals and the costs incurred. between January 2014 and May 2022 for laboratory testing.

In June, a state of emergency was declared in the pediatric sector, in particular due to overcrowding. The measures currently taken are aimed at Greater Florianopolis and Crisium. Municipalities in the region are currently developing their work plans so that the state can provide even more financial resources.

The Secretary indicated that since June 3, when the state of emergency was declared, transfers have been made to municipalities and hospitals to extend the hours of operation of primary health care units, as well as to strengthen the vaccination strategy. Which should include an active search for predominantly children, adolescents, pregnant women, puerperas and people with concomitant diseases.

“We are at a critical moment in the field of health, we, as a team of the Minister of Health, as a government, are asking parents and guardians to take their children to be vaccinated,” he reinforces.

Pulmonologist Marcio Giudis added that this increase in cases of respiratory diseases is directly related to low vaccination coverage. “So far, we have not been able to meet the vaccination goal for any of the vaccines on our calendar. Our children are becoming insecure,” he warns.

The state government said 65 baby beds were open in Santa Catarina from May to June. Of these, 52 intensive care units and 13 beds of moderate severity. Jobs were opened in different regions of the state, which allowed to expand the service network throughout Santa Catarina.

This Friday, structures were installed at the Infantil de Florianópolis that will help in the examination of patients and the treatment of the mildest cases, classified green and blue. Patients of other classifications will be referred to emergency care. According to the government, further expansion of the unit’s building is not envisaged. The temporary structure should be operational this weekend.

98% of Pediatric ICU beds are full

Santa Catarina has a 98.31% occupancy rate for intensive care beds available to children, meaning only two out of 118 active. In addition, the state also only has two neonatal wards, the SUS ICU Bed Panel reported Friday morning.

Due to overcrowding, two containers were placed in front of the department to sort patients and treat milder cases. The palliative solution found by SES to reduce occupancy in the ward and intensive care unit of the Joan de Gusmão Children’s Hospital began to be installed on Friday afternoon.