The emergency services for gynecology and obstetrics at Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada, Vila Franca de Xira, and Santo André Hospital in Leiria are scheduled to close on Saturday, according to data reviewed at 13:45 today.
These services will remain closed on Sunday, when the emergency services for these specialties will also be closed at São Bernardo Hospital in Setúbal.
Over the weekend, the gynecology and obstetrics emergency department at São Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon will only attend to cases referred by the Urgent Patient Guidance Center (CODU) of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM).
On Sunday, the gynecology emergency service at Braga Hospital will be limited between 00:00 and 08:00, and the obstetrics emergency will be restricted from 00:00 to 24:00, handling only cases referred by INEM.
The National Health Service (SNS) Emergency Schedules indicate that pediatric emergency services at Vila Franca de Xira Hospital and Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures will also be closed over the weekend.
The pediatric emergency at Amadora-Sintra Hospital will operate under restrictions on both days, from 00:00 to 08:00 and from 20:00 to midnight, attending only internal emergencies or those referred by INEM or the SNS 24 line.
The schedules available on the SNS portal state that approximately 130 emergency services nationwide will be open during the weekend, along with 30 gynecology and obstetrics services operating under a pilot project requiring prior contact from patients with the SNS 24 line.
The constraints in emergency services are primarily due to a shortage of specialist doctors to cover the schedules, a situation more common during holidays, like the summer and year-end, and extended weekends.
The operational challenges of emergency services have been most pronounced in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley, the region of the country where the most people lack an assigned family doctor.
Health authorities urge the public to contact the SNS24 line (808 24 24 24) before going to an emergency service to receive proper guidance.
