Latest news and stories about emergency services in government in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
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.
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 begins covering obstetrics emergencies for Vila Franca de Xira today, but does it have the capacity to handle double the number of patients?
Speaking to Antena 1's “Ponto Central”, the president of the National Commission for Women's Health explains that the new emergency department will guarantee a response for all pregnant women in the region, creating “greater stability in the system”. The regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department at Loures Hospital opens full-time this Monday. It is the first emergency unit created under this new model, which aims to address the shortage of doctors and the situation of specialist emergency departments that are constantly closing.
Speaking to Antena 1's 'Ponto Central', the president of the National Commission for Women's Health explains that the new emergency department will guarantee a response for all pregnant women in the region, creating 'greater stability in the system'. The regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department at Loures Hospital opens full-time this Monday. It is the first emergency unit created under this new model, which aims to address the shortage of doctors and the situation of specialist emergency departments that are constantly closing.
In an interview with CNN Portugal, Diogo Ayres de Campos, president of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Societies, confirms that the concentration model is being finalised to respond to the crisis in emergency departments. The specialist points to the “total incapacity” of the system and reveals that the situation at the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital is critical, with no room to support the network.
The Loures-Odivelas/Tejo Estuary gynaecology and obstetrics emergency unit, which will provide perinatal support, will be operational 24 hours a day starting this Monday, according to the NHS.
Starting today, the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital will also cover obstetric emergencies for Vila Franca de Xira, a restructuring that was often postponed, which did not prevent the usual opposition.
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.
This was one of the ways found by the Ministry of Health to minimise the constraints on emergency services for this specialty.
A solution that draws criticism from the mayor of Vila Franca de Xira. Also in this news bulletin: the PSD's proposal for the justice sector, fuel prices, and the highlights from the Oscars.
This was one of the methods found by the Ministry of Health to minimise the constraints on emergency services for this specialty. However, local mayors are positioning themselves against the 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.
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.
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.
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.
