The delivery of the new vehicle, representing a significant advancement for the population of the South Bank, was attended by senior ULSAR officials, including the President of the Board of Directors, Ana Teresa Xavier, the Nursing Director, José Filipe Nunes, and the Medical and Nursing Coordinators of VMER Barreiro, Pedro Batarda and Nuno Silva, respectively.
ULSAR stands out as the first Local Health Unit in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region to integrate this new equipment. Pedro Batarda, Medical Coordinator of VMER Barreiro, emphasized the importance of the vehicle's reliability: “A reliable vehicle is the starting point for everything we do. When we are activated, we must arrive quickly and safely, with all equipment ready to use on the patient.” He also highlighted the pride and effort of the team and the Hospital for their operational readiness.
This acquisition is part of a public tender promoted by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), aimed at renewing its fleet. The goal is to modernize operational resources, increase reliability and safety, and enhance the response capacity of the Integrated Medical Emergency System.
The arrival of the new VMER coincides with a landmark year for the VMER Barreiro/ULSAR team. In 2026, the unit celebrated its 10th anniversary and inaugurated a new Operational Base, with an investment exceeding 120 thousand euros. This new base aims to improve the team's operational conditions and readiness.
Over a decade, VMER Barreiro has completed more than 22 thousand missions and traveled over 700 thousand kilometers. These figures highlight the work carried out and the team's contribution to providing specialized care in emergency situations.
Pedro Batarda explained the team's mission: “From day one, this team's mission has been to bring to the field the differentiation and decision-making capacity that critically ill patients require. In practice, time is saved, decisions are made earlier, and the patient arrives already stabilized at the most appropriate hospital for their condition.”
VMER Barreiro began its operations on April 11, 2016, permanently ensuring pre-hospital emergency medical response on the South Bank of the Tagus. Composed of doctors and nurses, the team assesses, decides, and initiates treatment for critically ill patients at the scene of the incident.
