Latest news and stories about healthcare in infrastructure in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
The Minister of Health has acknowledged a significant increase in waiting times at Amadora-Sintra Hospital, which have now reached nine hours, highlighting ongoing challenges in healthcare service delivery.
The Portuguese government will fund two billion euros in infrastructure projects, including major hospital and metro expansions, through the State Budget after their removal from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with assurances that no tax hikes will follow.
The Vila Franca de Xira hospital is working to rebuild its gynaecology and obstetrics department after significant staff losses, following its integration into Portugal's first regional emergency service.
The external paediatric surgery emergency department at Dona Estefânia Hospital will remain closed until Sunday.
The Centralised Gynaecology and Obstetrics Emergency Department of Loures-Odivelas/Tejo Estuary recorded 201 births during its inaugural month of operation, meeting expected performance targets.
The Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures launches the first regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department, operating 24/7 to address healthcare staffing shortages.
The Government has authorised the shareholder reorganisation of HLO, the entity managing the Lisbon Oriental Hospital building, which will be operated under a public-private partnership. The operation involves the transfer of minority stakes to the dominant shareholder Hygeia, which will hold 100% of the company and be controlled in equal parts by Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construção...
Santa Maria Hospital has started performing surgery on patients with a severe form of hypertension that could previously only be treated in the United Kingdom. Patients and their families are no longer required to travel abroad.
Changes to the care circuit prevent patients from remaining on stretchers and also speed up hospital admissions.
Público highlights that ANA's profits have hit a new record, driven by growth at Porto Airport, which now accounts for 17% of the concessionaire's revenue. Negócios reports that ANA will raise fees at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports in 2027. Jornal de Notícias reports that tarot reader Maya was caught on a wiretap soliciting a luxury escort for a friend from the manager of Elefante Branco, a brothel at the centre of a human trafficking and pimping investigation. Correio da Manhã notes that a former Sporting official is among the VIP clients of the new 'Elefante Branco' in Lisbon, according to the public prosecutor's indictment against 12 defendants; the paper also reports on a 31-year-old con artist arrested for scamming the elderly using a 'kissing scheme'. Diário de Notícias highlights a shortage of 600 anaesthesiologists in the National Health Service (SNS). Expresso reports that the war has caused a €1.3 billion increase in fuel costs in Portugal. Eco features an interview with Jorge and Gonçalo Rebelo de Almeida of the Vila Galé group, who discuss plans to reach 60 hotels before the group's 50th anniversary. Observador shares the story of a 70-year-old chronic patient who waited nearly a day to be seen by a doctor at the Amadora-Sintra emergency department, despite being triaged with a yellow wristband.
Waiting times in emergency departments have reached high levels again in the Greater Lisbon area, with Amadora-Sintra Hospital recording nearly 11 hours for the initial observation of urgent patients. The Minister of Health has already admitted that there will be increased pressure in the coming weeks.
On Wednesday morning, September 2, the waiting time for an initial assessment of urgent patients at Amadora-Sintra Hospital reached nearly 11 hours, according to the National Health Service (SNS) portal. Data showed that at 08:45, patients classified as urgent (yellow wristband) at the Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca Hospital in Lisbon were waiting ten hours and 52 minutes to be seen by a doctor. Other hospitals, such as Garcia de Orta, Santa Maria, and Nossa Senhora do Rosário, also reported significant wait times, while major hospitals in the Greater Porto area maintained wait times of under one hour. Under the triage system, urgent cases (yellow) are recommended to be seen within 60 minutes.
The Minister of Health acknowledges the strain on healthcare facilities across the greater Lisbon region.
The Southern Zone Doctors' Union has warned of a lack of anaesthesiologists, which is putting emergency services at São Jorge at risk. The Local Health Unit (ULS) defends itself by citing holidays and a widespread shortage of professionals.
The Southern Zone Doctors' Union warned this Thursday of a “severe shortage” of anaesthesiologists at the São José Local Health Unit in Lisbon. The union warns that the lack of these professionals has a strong impact on the quality of care provided and the safety of emergency and urgent services.
The hospital explains that it was also necessary to reorganise scheduled activities, such as appointments and ultrasounds, and suspend internships to ensure the emergency department remains fully operational without response limitations.
Some of the patients were transferred from other hospitals in the Lisbon region. The Amadora-Sintra Local Health Unit (ULS) acknowledges the problem and calls for a “concerted response at a regional level”.
Emergency room wait times have increased once more across the Greater Lisbon area.
At the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures, according to the National Health Service portal, the wait was nearly two hours.
More than 50 patients who have been medically cleared were waiting this Wednesday for a social care placement to be able to leave the hospital.
Patients who no longer require acute medical care but cannot be discharged due to a lack of social support are occupying beds at Hospital de São José.
As of midday this Sunday, the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region reported over 200 patients in general emergency departments with waiting times for initial observation significantly exceeding Manchester Triage System recommendations. Despite slight improvements compared to the previous week, specific hospitals like Santa Maria and Barreiro continue to face severe pressure. Meanwhile, the Algarve region also reports high waiting times, though the ULS Algarve president has disputed the accuracy of the data provided by the NHS portal. Other regions, including the North, Centre, and Alentejo, currently report waiting times within recommended limits. Health Minister Ana Paula Martins has acknowledged that recent waiting times for urgent patients were unacceptable and indicated that the network requires review.
In the Algarve, the hospitals in Faro and Portimão were also recording an average waiting time of seven and a half hours.
Several patients waited an hour and a half to be seen at emergency departments in Lisbon. The president of the Association of Hospital Administrators, Xavier Barreto, analyses the case.
At issue is the new organic law of the INEM, which provides for the transfer of ambulances from the National Institute of Medical Emergency to the Local Health Units. Furthermore, the PSD and CDS want to hear from Nuno Melo in Parliament.
This morning, urgent patients are facing waits of over five hours in Lisbon and two hours in the Algarve. The NHS management guarantees the time is 'within expected values'. Also, Benfica plays in Scotland.
In this news bulletin, we revisit the report of the moment the moon covered the sun. Also in this edition, waiting times in emergency departments. And the preview of tonight's Hearts vs Benfica match in Scotland.
President Carlos Cortes warns: hospitals must not become 'yet another victim' in disasters. A FUNDEC report has already identified serious vulnerabilities in Lisbon and the Algarve.
