The urgent situation at Hospital do Barreiro, which required closure, led to an ambulance heading to Almada. However, the birth occurred on IC21, before reaching the tolls, while the obstetrics urgency in Almada remained operational. Following assistance from Moita firefighters and the Barreiro’s medical emergency vehicle, both mother and child are in good condition at Hospital Garcia de Orta, currently the only open obstetrics emergency facility on the Setúbal Peninsula.
Based on the National Health Service portal, the obstetrics and gynecology services at Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Barreiro and those at Hospitals in Setúbal and Aveiro are currently closed. Pedro Ferreira, the commander of Moita firefighters, noted that this delivery marks the “14th this year in a firefighter ambulance,” highlighting the increasing normality of such occurrences.
In a recent parliamentary session, Health Minister Ana Paula Martins mentioned that approximately 150 deliveries occurred in non-hospital settings this year, including in ambulances, on streets, or at homes. The government plans to establish a regional obstetrics emergency unit on the Setúbal Peninsula, amid staff shortages. This initiative would ensure continuous operation at Hospital Garcia de Orta and allocate Setúbal Hospital for cases referred by SNS 24 and INEM.
The possibility of closing the obstetrics emergency unit in Barreiro prompted public protest from dozens of users and local officials opposing the decision. This closure has sparked notable regional opposition.
