Latest news and stories about emergency services in health in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
The president of ULS Amadora-Sintra stated today that the reorganization of the emergency department is “an ambitious goal” that involves strengthening coordination between primary healthcare, SNS 24, and the Sintra Hospital, in order to avoid unnecessary emergency visits.
Sandra Cavaca stated that social care beds in nursing homes have increased from 65 to 90 and an “emergency commission” has been created to manage the service until it is possible to stabilise and attract more doctors.
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.
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?
The clinical director of the hospital area states that there are currently five nurses and four doctors available to meet the needs of patients.
The regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department at Loures hospital, which opened today, has full teams and rosters to ensure a safe, predictable, and timely response for patients, an official from the institution assured today.
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.
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.
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.
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.
