Emergency departments specializing in gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics were shut down over the weekend.
In the Lisbon and Tejo Valley area, nine Obstetrics and Gynecology emergency services have been temporarily closed between Saturday and Sunday due to staffing issues. These closures have caused significant disruptions in hospital services, with the affected units having to manage resources and ensure safety.
The affected hospitals include Almada, Vila Franca de Xira, Caldas da Rainha, Aveiro, Setúbal, and others in the region. On Saturday, four hospitals - Almada, Vila Franca de Xira, Caldas da Rainca, and Aveiro - were not accepting pregnant women, while the hospitals of Almada, Vila Franca de Xira, Caldas da Rainca, Setúbal, and Ana Paula Martins, the Minister of Health, promised to hire new obstetricians from the private sector to address the shortage.
The Hospital de Setúbal also stopped accepting pregnant women on Sunday, and the Pediatric Emergency of Vila Franca de Xira remained closed on Saturday, as previously mentioned. The closures primarily affect hospitals in the Lisbon and Tejo Valley area, with the Garcia de Orta hospital in Almada being closed for the entire week due to a lack of doctors to fill the shifts.
Despite earlier announcements of reinforcements at Garcia de Orta hospital, reports indicate that the reinforcement has been slow and insufficient, leading to continued service challenges in the region. The problem at Garcia de Orta hospital is expected to be resolved by September, according to Ana Paula Martins.
It is worth noting that no new hospitals have been added to the list of those affected by the weekend closures. If you require the most current or detailed official government or hospital statements, consulting local health authority releases or recent news reports from Portuguese media would be advisable.
- The affected hospitals, including Almada, Vila Franca de Xira, Caldas da Rainca, Aveiro, Setúbal, and Ana Paula Martins, are seeking to address the staffing shortage in Obstetrics and Gynecology by hiring new obstetricians from the private sector.
- Aware of the health-and-wellness concerns, the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, has promised to reinforce the Garcia de Orta hospital in Almada and other hospitals in the Lisbon and Tejo Valley area, ensuring safety and providing better science-based obstetric care for the affected communities.
