The regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency unit at Loures Hospital opens this Monday, 16 March, at 09:00. It is the first to be created under a new model designed to address the shortage of healthcare professionals. This initiative by the Ministry of Health aims to mitigate service disruptions caused by a lack of doctors, a problem most evident in the Setúbal Peninsula. The unit at Hospital Beatriz Ângelo will operate 24/7, though unions have expressed concerns regarding the lack of additional staff and the potential forced relocation of doctors. While the regional emergency model centralises services to maintain coverage, the government has clarified that maternity services at Vila Franca de Xira Hospital will remain operational for scheduled births and non-urgent consultations.