Latest news and stories about emergency services in health in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
The external paediatric surgery emergency department at Hospital Dona Estefânia in Lisbon will remain closed until Sunday at 8:00 PM. The clinical director cited a critical shortage of anaesthesiology staff as the reason for the temporary suspension of emergency surgical services.
The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) is under scrutiny after its emergency dispatch centre, the CODU, reportedly refused to authorize hospital transport for a 55-year-old blind man. Although the CODU initially dispatched an ambulance from the Arruda dos Vinhos fire department to the Marvila area in Lisbon, it later denied the patient admission to the hospital. Firefighters proceeded to transport the man to the Hospital de São José regardless of the instruction.
INEM (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica) is Portugal's national emergency medical service, responsible for coordinating and providing pre-hospital emergency care. It operates the country's emergency medical dispatch system, activated through the European emergency number 112.
INEM deploys ambulances (including basic and advanced life support units), medical helicopters (VMER), and motorcycle response units across Portugal. It also manages the CODU (Centro de Orientação de Doentes Urgentes) — the emergency call centers that triage incoming 112 calls and dispatch the appropriate medical response.
INEM has faced persistent challenges including ambulance shortages, staffing gaps (particularly among emergency medical technicians), and long response times in rural areas. These issues have made INEM a frequent subject of political debate, with calls for better funding, improved working conditions, and expanded coverage. Residents should know that calling 112 connects to INEM's triage system, and knowing your exact location speeds up emergency response.
The CODU (Centro de Orientação de Doentes Urgentes) is the emergency medical dispatch center responsible for coordinating urgent pre-hospital care in Portugal. It operates under the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) to assess medical emergencies and dispatch the appropriate resources, such as ambulances or helicopters.
A protest in Lisbon highlights the deteriorating state of the NHS, with a specific focus on the controversial reorganisation of emergency services.
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 journey took place during the early hours of this Saturday. The baby required specialised medical care.
It was one of the “critical” situations during the blackout: the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital in Lisbon had five hours of autonomy and, as the day went on, government drivers were sent to deliver fuel to the unit, though it was not needed. ULS São José assures RTP Antena 1 that all hospitals are now holding up for a day. Meanwhile, the SNS Executive Board has not clarified what reinforcements were made across all hospitals.
The CODU dispatched emergency services from the Arruda dos Vinhos Fire Department to Lisbon, but ultimately refused transport to the hospital.
I know it is not easy to accept this, but the emergency system does not exist to respond to our anxiety. The system was created to respond to the severity of situations. A column by Carmen Garcia.
Changes in patient transport lead firefighters to sign an agreement with INEM. The municipality promises to pay in May.
A young girl's cardiac arrest forced Ajuda firefighters to transport her. INEM states that prior contact should have been made.
The President of the Republic is meeting with all social partners, including the CGTP, which had been excluded from negotiations. Additionally, the Government promises to find a solution for the INEM's debts to the fire departments.
Cristina Vaz Tomé says she was not informed about the strike notices and only learned of the stoppage when she arrived in Lisbon, by which time it was already underway. Her statements were contested by the PS, Chega, and IL.
The alert was given at 04:30 and the fire was extinguished by 05:06.
Eight people were treated for smoke inhalation and one was transported to the hospital. The alert was given at 04:30 and the fire was extinguished by 05:06.
One person was transported to the hospital in an operation involving 40 emergency personnel and 12 vehicles.
Lisbon will have 18 fire brigade ambulances by the end of April. The tender to renew the fleet is awaiting approval. Luís Cabral says he found a 'pre-civil war' climate when he arrived at the institute.
In a first phase, 12 stations will be activated, starting operations from midnight tonight, with a progressive expansion to 18 stations planned by the end of April, a source from the institute stated.
INEM will also make adjustments to the emergency medical ambulance system, adapting their distribution and schedules to resource availability and recorded operational activity.
The number of emergency ambulances operated by firefighters in the city of Lisbon will increase from six to 18 by the end of April.
Lisbon has had a metropolitan ophthalmology emergency service since 2013, which operates on an alternating basis at night between São José and Santa Maria hospitals. The SNS 24 health line referred the patient to a hospital without this emergency service. The algorithm has since been reviewed.
Intensivist Nuno Gaibino will take over as interim director of the central emergency department at Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon this Wednesday, replacing João Gouveia, according to an internal note. The ULS Santa Maria Board of Directors stated the decision aims to bring new momentum to the strategic renewal project of the Central Emergency Service. Gaibino, who currently serves as National Coordinator for Transplantation at the IPST, will hold the position until a formal selection process for a permanent director is concluded.
Ana Paula Martins guarantees that “this is proof that the [current model] does not work”
A pregnant woman transported from Barreiro gave birth before entering the emergency department of Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon.
Barreiro Hospital denies scheduling the birth. The doctor who assisted the pregnant woman from Moita suspected fetal distress.
A pregnant woman went into labour and gave birth in the car park of the Santa Maria hospital.
A pregnant woman transported from Barreiro gave birth before being admitted to the emergency department at Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon. Both mother and newborn are doing well.
Barreiro Hospital did not admit a pregnant woman who had her delivery scheduled for this morning. She was taken by firefighters to Santa Maria and ended up having the baby in the hospital's car park.
A woman gave birth this Friday, March 27, in an ambulance in the car park of Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, after firefighters from Moita were informed she could not go to Barreiro Hospital, where she had a scheduled delivery for 09:00. The information was reported by SIC Notícias. Pedro Ferreira, commander of the Moita firefighters, told the television station that they were called around 07:00 for a woman in labour and, following instructions from the CODU (Urgent Patient Guidance Centre), the 39-week pregnant woman was directed to Santa Maria instead of Barreiro. The journey of about 40 kilometres took over an hour. The commander reported that the team had to stop in Sete Rios due to the imminent birth, and although they reached Santa Maria, they did not make it past the car park. Last year, this fire brigade performed 15 births in ambulances, a figure Pedro Ferreira describes as excessive and concerning, noting that births should take place in delivery rooms to avoid risks to the mother, baby, and crew. This marks the 14th ambulance birth for the Moita firefighters this year.
The alert for the accident was given around 8:40 AM.
Público highlights this Thursday, March 19, that the Public Prosecution Service criticises the Judiciary Police for delays in investigating corruption crimes, noting that a report on the criminal policy law defining priority investigations for 2023-2025 warns of a shortage of prosecutors, court officials, and experts. The newspaper also reports that there are now deadlines for insurers to disregard cancer history when calculating premiums, with a decree-law establishing a reference grid for various oncological conditions. Additionally, an interview with Francisco César, leader of the PS-Azores, reveals accusations that the PSD is attempting to exclude the PS from the Constitutional Court. Jornal de Notícias reports on a serial rapist targeting dozens of young women in the Greater Porto area. Correio da Manhã focuses on a corruption case involving Christmas lights in Lisbon, alleging 400,000 euros in bribes, with the Judiciary Police monitoring a lunch between the City Council's secretary-general, Alberto Laplaine, and businessmen. Diário de Notícias covers a meeting of 14 mayors from Greater Lisbon to coordinate a joint fight against the closure of emergency services. Negócios reports on the Government's new diesel subsidy.
