The Regional Secretary for Health announced today a contingency plan to cope with a possible increase in the number of cases of flu, which will require an increase in consultations and a counselling campaign.
 
"At Ponta Delgada and Ribeira Grande Health Centres, we will provide an additional 200 consultations per day, as these are the two municipalities where there are still patients who are followed by a general practitioner. In turn, the Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória Health Centres will provide more than consultations per day," said Rui Luís. He spoke at the presentation of the mitigation measures for the flu season.
 
The Secretary for Health folder pointed out that the increase in consultations on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira is justified by the fact that there are patients without general practitioner on these islands. As for the remaining island and municipalities, the coverage is assured, in addition to the existence of emergency services.
 
For patients followed by general practitioners, specific consultations for patients with flu symptoms will be available on a daily basis.
 
Rui Luís also stated the Ponta Delgada Health Centre will provide, during this period, open consultations at the weekend, in case there is an increase in the influx of patients at the emergency room of Divino Espirito Santo Hospital.
 
The extraordinary measures now announced will be in force in February and March, when the peak period of flu is expected to occur in the Azores.
 
These measures also include a campaign to raise awareness and provide counselling to patients.
 
"It is important to convey to the population that the flu should be treated at home, that is, the flu has a series of symptoms that can be treated at home through counselling provided by the Azores Health Line," stressed the Regional Secretary.
 
The Azores Health Line (808 24 60 24) began last week a follow-up for patients who call this line in order check the evolution of their health status. It has already registered a flow of calls five times higher.
 
The Regional Secretary urged people to "call first the Azores Health Line or, as an alternative, use Health Centres, while the emergency services should be only the last resort.