This regime, established through a decree-law, is intended to be applied “solely and exclusively” in situations where the continuity of emergency services is not guaranteed due to a lack of human resources, stated Ana Paula Martins at a press conference following the conclusions of Wednesday’s Council of Ministers.
The minister indicated that it is envisaged that two or more local health units (ULS) in a particular region may join forces to concentrate emergency services.
The first regional emergency service set to become operational will be in the Setúbal Peninsula, specifically in obstetrics and gynecology, with the government planning to initiate it at the beginning of the year.
Ana Paula Martins emphasized that the three hospitals in this region—Setúbal, Barreiro, and Almada—will maintain all scheduled maternity and delivery room activities.
However, she noted that external emergencies will be centralized at Hospital Garcia de Orta. This centralization in the Setúbal Peninsula was based on a technical study indicating that Hospital de Setúbal, which will not have open emergencies to the outside, will receive emergencies referred by INEM.
According to the minister, “some specific aspects” of this legal framework for the centralization of regional external emergencies are still being negotiated with unions.
She mentioned that professionals within the regional emergency teams—doctors, nurses, and auxiliary health technicians—will retain their employment ties to their ULS, with service relocations occurring as per current legal provisions.
“There are significant advantages in terms of predictability for pregnant women to clearly understand which emergency is indeed open when they are pre-triaged for emergency care,” the official highlighted.
The establishment of these regional emergencies is a measure outlined in the government’s program.
Hospitals in the Setúbal Peninsula have faced the greatest constraints due to a shortage of professionals needed to staff obstetrics and gynecology schedules, leading to the recurrent temporary closure of emergency services.
