A team of 26 health professionals from the German Armed Forces, all with experience in intensive medicine, are ensuring, since February 8, an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), made available by Hospital da Luz Lisboa to the National Health Service ( SNS ), with a capacity for 8 COVID-19 critical patients. In a press conference, the head of the German team, Colonel Jens-Peter Evers , praised and acknowledge the “perfect cooperation” that is happening between the Portuguese and German authorities, and Hospital da Luz. The availability of this HL Lisboa ICU arises in the scope of the extended collaboration that Grupo Luz Saúde has been maintaining with the SNS and the Government, towards a joint response to the actual sanitary crisis. As explained by Isabel Vaz , the Luz Saúde CEO, it was possible to reallocate resources and adapt spaces “in record time”, in order to answer the call of the Health Ministry for the German team to be able to work in a single space. “We didn’t expect to find such excellent work conditions, they could not be better”, stressed Jens-Peter Evers, further referring that the German military staff feel welcomed in Lisbon. “Our single goal is saving lives. This is not merely a question of European friendship, it is also a question of cooperation and working together. When friends need help, that is what we have to do. For now, our intention is to stay three weeks, but I believe that we will have to stay longer”, he stated, also leaving a message for the German society: “It is important to be here, for all lives matter. And we are also learning with this cooperation”. The cooperation and the coordination of all entities involved in the materialization of the help offered by Germany, were also highlighted by João Gouveia , the coordinator of the Monitoring Committee of the National Response in Intensive Medicine to COVID-19. The intensivist appreciated the sending of this team of 26 professionals, as well as the accommodation offered by Luz Saúde and the welcoming by Hospital da Luz Lisboa professionals, further explaining its importance for the country: “Right now, the estimation of needs in Intensive Care is higher than the existing capacity: we need more 200 beds in the next few weeks. This is a huge effort for the national health system and we will only be able to overcome this situation, if we all work together and in network. To accept international help is an act of intelligence. It is not ‘the solution’, but it is a help and a help that we need. We must prepare for the worst, hoping for the best”. João Gouveia further explained that this ICU of 8 beds in HL Lisboa, under the clinical coordination of the German team, is destined for COVID-19 critical patients from the area of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, in condition to be transported from the hospitals they are presently in. The first patient here received, this Monday, came from Hospital Garcia de Orta, in Almada, others being in process of transfer, for instance from hospitals in Barreiro and Cascais. The operation of this ICU at HL Lisboa is exclusively ensured by the German professionals. But, whenever necessary, they have available the support and follow-up of two Hospital da Luz Lisboa professionals: an administrative official and an Imaging technician (this one of German nationality and bilingual), that act as liaison to the other services of the hospital. In fact, during the press conference, lieutenant-colonel Katrin Thinnes reported, from the ICU, that the communication with HL Lisboa colleagues has been going quite well. “For us, it is an honour to be able to help the country in this critical phase”, stated Isabel Vaz, the Luz Saúde CEO, closing this press conference in the name of the group, where were also present Rui Maio , António Messias and Pedro Líbano Monteiro – respectively, the clinical director, the Intensive Medicine Service director, and the executive manager of HL Lisboa.
