Second Patient Dies in Portimão Emergency Room Awaiting Care

A second patient has died in the emergency department of Portimão Hospital without being examined by a doctor, approximately 24 hours after admission. The fatality follows the death of an 87-year-old man who waited over 10 hours at the same facility operated by the Algarve Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve). Hospital nurses have submitted disclaimers of liability (escusas de responsabilidade), reporting severe staffing shortages and a lack of clinical leadership.