Local Health Unit of Matosinhos

History of ULS Matosinhos

The Matosinhos Local Health Unit was established in 1999, integrating the Pedro Hispano Hospital and the Health Centers of Matosinhos, Senhora da Hora, Leça da Palmeira, and São Mamede Infesta, aiming to provide care to the population of Matosinhos. Since 2007, it has also included a short-term Convalescence Unit and, in the field of Public Health, the Center for Sanitation and Borders. It is a national reference in terms of the integration of care across primary, hospital, and continuing care levels.

Objectives and Mission

The primary purpose of ULSM is to provide healthcare services to all citizens in general, specifically: users of the National Health Service (SNS); external entities that contract healthcare services with it; foreign citizens who are not residents within the scope of applicable national and international legislation. ULSM also aims to: Ensure the activities of public health operational services and the necessary resources for exercising the competencies of the health authority in the geographical area it covers; Develop research, training, and education activities, with participation in the training of healthcare professionals depending on its capacity for training, potentially subject to program agreements defining respective financing methods.

The mission of ULSM is to promote health based on the identification of community needs, ensuring access to integrated, preventive, personalized, humanized, technically, scientifically, and relationally excellent healthcare throughout the life cycle, fostering a strong sense of commitment and trust among employees and users.

Clinical Trials Center

Established in 2014, with the mission to support and promote clinical research within the Matosinhos Local Health Unit, the Clinical Trials Center, operating at the Pedro Hispano Hospital, emerged from a collaboration protocol signed with Blueclinical following the publication of the Clinical Research Law, which provided a framework opportunity for the promotion of this activity. This Research Service aims to promote clinical research in all its aspects, creating conditions for its realization. Therefore, ULSM considers this area pivotal for numerous reasons. On one hand, for professionals, it serves as an additional factor for engagement in the development of medications and medical devices, allowing them to enhance their knowledge and training. On the other hand, it provides ULSM users with access to innovative therapies and new health technologies that may meet their needs, contributing to this Health Unit's goal of delivering excellent service to its community. It also enables access to cutting-edge scientific knowledge and the adoption of best practices in patient care, generating higher quality data to support decision-making in healthcare.