Professionals from the radiology sector at Hospital Raul Sertã, in Nova Friburgo, in the Serrana region of Rio, denounce several structural flaws in the city’s main public hospital, which serves not only Nova Friburgo, but at least 13 other neighboring municipalities.
Among the complaints, one of the ones that drew the most attention was the lack of suitable material for printing x-ray exams, which are being printed on bond sheet, A4 paper.
This is the second time that Miss Elizabeth has had an x-ray exam and received the printout on a plain sheet of paper.
“Plain sheet of paper… because this is a blur, so it’s difficult! Everyone who is taking x-rays is leaving with this paper in their hands”, said Mrs. Elizabeth indignantly.
Neuza was also surprised by the situation.
“Inside there are a lot of people with this little white paper in their hands. School test sheet, right? It’s revolting because we want our health to improve. The ability to pay for a private plan… there isn’t one, right! It’s depressing!”, concluded Dona Neuza.
/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2024/M/K/Dpog56T9moZ0E84cjurg/whatsapp-image-2024-01-16-at-18.06.45.jpeg "Patients complain when they receive x-rays printed on A4 paper in a hospital in Serra do RJ: 'It looks like a school test sheet' 8")
Patients were surprised to see x-rays printed on plain paper at Raul Sertã Hospital, in Nova Friburgo — Photo: Pablo Pais/g1
The employees of the hospital’s radiology department themselves denounce the situation. According to them, in addition to printing the x-rays on A4 paper, the machine called the processor is defective.
According to employees, professionals are using equipment that only takes one reading at a time, which does not meet the hospital’s demands.
Another complaint is the lack of a system that shares images to doctors’ computers.
Due to all these problems, according to them, it is only possible to attend the emergency room and the orthopedics clinic.
A public servant in radiology for nine years, Francisco spoke about the problems:
“Working conditions are bad. The machines are obsolete. Both the x-ray machine and the processor had problems on Sunday (14). Some technicians came and took the part to a grinder and so far they haven’t given us any satisfaction. The people who work in the sector don’t even know what’s going on,” said Francisco.
Francisco also spoke about the problem of printing patients’ x-rays on a sheet of common A4 paper. According to him, because of this, most doctors are not signing patients’ reports.
“Some doctors who sign down there that they are responsible for the report are refusing to sign the report. They don’t want this type of document. We don’t know what will happen. We are looking forward to installing new equipment. It’s been a long time and nothing has been resolved,” she says.
“The citizens are here now suffering, going through what they are going through, waiting three, four, five hours to be seen… so what? Is it worth the expense of the Christmas party and lighting in the city? I think it would be worth more if they thought about people”, says Francisco.
What the Department of Health says
In a note, the Municipal Health Department informed that the processor is actually undergoing maintenance, as mentioned. He also said that he has already opened a dialogue channel with employees of the X-Ray Sector, aiming to resolve the problems highlighted by them.
“…and the secretary himself, who took over management on the 4th, has been there in person several times since then. Most of these demands require bidding, which is already being carried out to adapt the physical and work structures”.
The municipality also explained the procedures to resolve the situation.
“In the first week of the year, a tender for inputs for the sector was concluded and the material should be delivered in a few days. The processor was sent for maintenance immediately after developing a defect and Sisreg service was temporarily suspended so as not to overload urgent and emergency care at Raul Sertã Hospital. There is already a process underway to purchase more modern equipment for the X-ray sector, which will allow for agility in carrying out and sharing exams with doctors’ computers. No formal complaint or refusal of the exam printed on paper was registered by the doctors to the Hospital management, concluded the City Hall.
