Between Sunday and Saturday, a shortage of doctors for shifts will affect the work of 76 specialized emergency departments in almost all hospitals in the country. According to the SNS Executive Directorate (DE/SNS), in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo there are 30 services with restrictions: 24 in the north, 20 in the center and four in Alentejo (two) and Algarve (two).
In some cases, emergency services are closed all week, for example in Chavez (Department of Pediatrics and Orthopedics), Mirandel (Department of General Surgery), Barcelos (Department of General Surgery), Penafiel (Department of General Surgery), Guarda (Department of General Surgery and Via) Verde do AVK) and Évora (general surgery).
Users should call SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) before going to the emergency department (or 112 in case of an emergency) – these services will be able to refer less serious patients to the health center. In cases of “immediately life-threatening situations,” INEM must determine “consideration of referral to the nearest health facility, even in unforeseen circumstances, if this is technically the best option.”