Azambuja: Vote of repudiation over closure of obstetric emergency unit
Unanimous agreement among PS, PSD, CDU, and Chega. The mayor warns that 250,000 people are now more than 50 km and one hour away from the nearest obstetric emergency service.

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Unanimous agreement among PS, PSD, CDU, and Chega. The mayor warns that 250,000 people are now more than 50 km and one hour away from the nearest obstetric emergency service.

The PSP is investigating what might have happened.

Pregnant women from the five municipalities previously covered by the emergency department will now be treated in Loures, which has become the first regional emergency unit for this specialty.
Anselmo Crespo argues that the new regional emergency department in Loures fails to address the critical, long-term shortage of healthcare professionals causing service closures across Portugal.

This was one of the ways found by the Ministry of Health to minimise the constraints on emergency services for this specialty.

The meeting took place on the same day that the gynaecology and obstetrics emergency services at that unit closed, with cases being redirected to the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures.

The model began operating this morning at the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital. Mayors of the municipalities affected by the closure of the service in Vila Franca de Xira met with the minister and promise to continue fighting.

Loures will now receive pregnant women from Vila Franca de Xira. Officials state that the service is finally organised.
Loures will now receive pregnant women from Vila Franca de Xira. Officials state that the service is finally organised.
The mayor of Vila Franca de Xira promises to continue the fight. He says the minister did not commit to reversing the closure of the local emergency room, despite mentioning a temporary solution.

The Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures launches the first regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department, operating 24/7 to address healthcare staffing shortages.

A new gynaecology and obstetrics referral network is being implemented in Portugal, centralising patient flow to Loures while highlighting critical staffing shortages across multiple regional hospitals.

The SNS executive director announced a new system for handling obstetric emergencies starting on the 16th, where more complex cases will be directed to Loures Hospital, while Vila Franca de Xira will handle less serious cases. The SNS24 line will assess and direct pregnant women to the appropriate services. During a hearing, the director defended the performance of INEM and discussed the impact of funding diversions on emergency services.

Five mayors from municipalities served by the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital are taking action against the closure of emergency services. They plan to submit a petition and send a letter to the Minister of Health to express their outrage over the decision, highlighting concerns about public safety and healthcare access.
Update: Mayors to Address Parliament In addition to a petition, the five mayors will also take their concerns to Parliament, seeking to raise awareness and garner support against the closure of emergency services at the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital.

Around 1,200 individuals have been displaced in mainland Portugal due to severe flooding, particularly in the Central region. The evacuations were carried out as a preventive measure, affecting areas such as Beira Baixa, Coimbra, Leiria, and the Lisbon area.

The arrival of Depression Marta is expected to bring heavy rain to Lisbon and Setúbal, with the most concerning period being between morning and early afternoon. Areas already facing complications may experience the worst impacts as this is the third depression to hit the region in a short span of time.

A man was shot dead inside a car in Queluz, Sintra, after being hit multiple times by gunfire. The PSP reports witnesses described the weapon as an automatic, military‑calibre firearm; the Polícia Judiciária has opened an investigation. Authorities are treating the incident as a serious public‑safety matter while enquiries continue.

At 03:23 an explosion at a building under construction in Algés damaged nearby vehicles and neighbouring homes. The cause has not yet been established and authorities are investigating; emergency services responded to secure the site and assess injuries and structural risks. Analytically, investigators will likely examine sources such as gas leaks, construction materials or workmanship failures, while officials must prioritise resident safety, site stabilization and a transparent inquiry into regulatory compliance.

By 20:00 mainland Portugal had recorded 713 incidents linked to severe weather, concentrated in the North region and Lisbon and the Tagus Valley. A landslide in Porto Salvo put a home at risk and prompted authorities to rehouse one family in Oeiras; emergency services managed widespread calls and localised interventions. The figures underline pressure on local emergency capacity and highlight continued public-safety and accommodation challenges as adverse conditions persist.

Lisbon firefighters' union says the Regimento de Sapadores Bombeiros de Lisboa (RSBL) is in 'utter disarray', citing delays in promotions, organisational failures and that more than 10% of operational personnel lack proper uniforms. Staff are considering issuing a pre-strike notice as a warning that industrial action could follow if complaints over safety, logistics and career progression are not resolved. The union warns these problems undermine emergency response and public safety and is calling for urgent management and municipal intervention.

CNN Portugal spent time inside CODU, INEM’s medical call centre in Lisbon and found a centre under sustained pressure where high call volumes demand rapid, accurate triage and careful deployment of ambulances and other rescue resources. The report examines how operators prioritise calls, the protocols guiding decision-making, and the operational strain of matching limited resources to urgent needs.

A man has been remanded in custody after a 9-year-old boy died and a 14-year-old was injured when a shotgun allegedly discharged accidentally in the Bela Vista neighbourhood. Authorities say the weapon belonged to a family member; investigators remain on the scene and the case is being examined for possible criminal negligence and safety lapses, prompting questions about firearm storage and emergency response protocols.

The PSP (Public Security Police) have identified around 30 people after shots were fired with prohibited weapons in Lisbon. A targeted operation — involving Rapid Intervention Teams and Traffic Division units — ran from 22:00 Friday to 02:00 Saturday; no incidents were recorded and no arrests were made. Enquiries and investigations remain ongoing as police follow up on those linked to the discharges.

Four gynaecology and obstetrics emergency departments have been closed. In Amadora‑Sintra only the gynaecology emergency department is shut; meanwhile the general emergency at Hospital Fernando Fonseca (Amadora‑Sintra) reported a three‑hour wait for patients classed as very urgent as of 20:00, according to the SNS Portal. Santa Maria recorded a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour wait for very urgent cases, and Hospital de Loures topped the waiting‑time list with around three‑hour waits for urgent patients.