Official data from the Central Administration of the Health System indicates that the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) is facing a decline in performance, with fewer consultations and surgeries performed by the end of February compared to previous years. Meanwhile, the Portuguese Society of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Sociedade Portuguesa de Obstetrícia e Medicina Materno-Fetal or SPOMMF) acknowledged that private hospitals are performing an excess of caesarean sections. The society attributed this trend to the ongoing crisis in public obstetric emergency services.
NHS performance declines as private sector caesarean rates rise
Tuesday, 5 May 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
ULS Alto Ave is the Alto Ave Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Ave), a public body that runs hospitals and some primary-care services for the Ave area in northern Portugal. It is part of the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS), and recent staff strikes have affected overtime and complementary work, so residents should check local hospital notices before visiting.
