Regional reports say all medical emergency ambulances in the Algarve were halted again due to staffing shortages, leaving pre-hospital response reduced across the region. Local outlets highlight the stoppage stems from a lack of human resources rather than equipment, raising concerns for timely ambulance response, particularly during a winter health surge. Expats and visitors in the Algarve should be aware of possible delays and consider local health centre (centro de saúde) contacts for non-life-threatening problems and private transport plans for urgent care.

Update: National coverage confirms the stoppage recurred this weekend, with regional services attributing the pause to workforce shortages rather than technical faults. Sources advise residents and visitors to use their local health centre contacts for triage and to plan alternatives for urgent transport; the situation underlines a regional variation in emergency response capacity that may affect travel and weekend plans in the Algarve.