The ceremony marked the completion of the construction and modernization process of the new Techniques Unit, which today received its new name in honor of Professor José Velosa, a leading figure in the specialty in the country.
The President of ULS Santa Maria, Carlos das Neves Martins, highlighted Professor José Velosa's importance to the institution and the National Health Service, emphasizing the fairness of naming the new Unit after him.
The new Angiography Room, associated with Endoscopy, represents technological innovation, safety, and an exponential increase in quality for advanced gastroenterology procedures, according to the team of the ULSSM Gastroenterology Service, led by Luís Correia.
This technology will allow for the expansion and improvement of response capacity in areas such as Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography and therapeutic Endosonography, for both elective and urgent cases.
The total investment in the construction plan and equipment for the new Techniques Unit amounted to nearly 3 million euros, with the Angiography Room alone representing an investment of approximately 1.5 million euros.
With this state-of-the-art equipment, ULS Santa Maria now boasts one of the most advanced gastroenterology clinical infrastructures in the country, featuring six procedure rooms, an advanced imaging room, and a recovery area.
Carlos das Neves Martins stressed that this modernization effort reflects ULS Santa Maria's commitment to innovation in patient care, optimizing workflows and ensuring international standards of quality and safety.
Gastrointestinal pathology includes some of the leading causes of death in Portugal, such as colorectal and biliopancreatic cancer, where timely diagnosis is crucial for patients' quality of life.
The ULS Santa Maria Gastroenterology and Hepatology Service conducts approximately 30,000 consultations and 30,000 examinations annually, serving as a reference unit within the National Health Service's network response.
