Should the worst happen, the Algarve now has a further seven ambulances and two specialised motorcycles to reinforce the national emergency medical service’s teams covering the Algarve - medical help has never been closer.
The summertime boost in the INEM's ability to respond swiftly to accidents is a welcome relief for the existing 37 emergency medical teams, available 24/7 but always under pressure at this time of year due to the increase in accidents on and off the road during the tourist season.
Alcoutim council and its residents are delighted that it will be getting an ambulance for the first time. With the creation of a Medical Emergency Post based at the local Bombeiros fire station, this rural area now is covered with 'fast response' services.
The reinforcement ambulance teams will be based in Portimão (two), Altura, Almancil, Ferreiras, Armação de Pêra and Albufeira. The rapid response motorcycles will be located in Portimão and Albufeira.
This new cooperation between the INEM, the Fire Brigade and the Portuguese Red Cross, of course needed a big ceremony so the big-wigs, including the INEM chairman, Dr. Luís Meira, Algarve Regional Health Board chairman, Dr. Paulo Morgado, the head of the Portuguese Firefighters, Jaime Marta Soares, and head of the Faro branch of the Red Cross, Norberto Martins, met at the Coordination Commission for Regional Development of the Algarve’s offices in Faro (CCDR-A) to sign off the agreement.
Once the protocols were signed, Paulo Morgado said that more of the Algarve now is covered by emergency teams - a far better service than before.
