One fifth of the National Health Service’s (SNS) emergency gynaecology/obstetrics (UGO) departments will be closed on the last weekend of August. According to the SNS portal, nine UGOs are closed on Saturday and eight services are closed on Sunday.
The Setubal peninsula is the worst-hit region, with women, including pregnant women, in need of emergency care only able to use Lisbon hospitals, and on Sunday, thousands of Portuguese residents returning from holidays in the Alentejo and Greater Lisbon are expected to have limited access to the capital.
In addition to the closure of the UGO, there are also pediatric emergency departments with closed doors. In total, 12 services are closed on Saturday and Sunday from the north to the south of the country. Some emergencies are limited, reception is only for users referred by CODU/INEM and/or SNS 24 (808 24 24 24).
The rotational closure of acute care hospitals due to a shortage of specialists was a measure implemented in 2023 by the previous SNS Executive Directorate.
Author: Edgar Nascimento
Source: CM Jornal
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