São João Hospital launches pet visitation program for patients

São João, a leading public university hospital in Portugal, has launched the ‘Pets and Company’ project, allowing domestic pets to visit patients within hospital wards. The initiative, which began on July 9, aims to reduce patient isolation and alleviate the exhaustion associated with long-term hospital stays.

The program is a collaborative effort involving the One Health São João programme, the Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Control Unit, and the hospital’s Humanisation service. Unlike previous models that relied on trained emotional support dogs from volunteer associations, this new protocol seeks to normalize the presence of a patient’s own pets by recognizing them as part of the immediate family.

To ensure safety, the hospital has established a comprehensive protocol. Visits are not automatic; they must be requested by the patient’s doctor or nurse, who will conduct a tailored assessment of the potential risks and benefits for each specific case to maintain sanitary conditions.