The SESARAM health service has decided to publish weekly figures on the number of visits to its emergency departments, a move aimed at strengthening health literacy among the public.
The announcement comes in the month marking the introduction of the Manchester Triage System, created in November 1994. The system sets clinical priority for each patient based on the signs and symptoms identified, using a colour code from red (emergency, immediate treatment) to blue (non-urgent, waiting up to 240 minutes).
Besides the emergency department at Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital, the region has nine Urgent Care Services located in its health centres. SESARAM reminds residents that non-urgent cases should preferably be directed to the health centre serving their area of residence.