The inauguration of the new maternity unit at the Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon was marked by the visit of the Health Minister Ana Paula Martins. The opening, which officially took place after a phased rollout beginning in August, was attended by Carlos Martins, President of the Board of Directors of the Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Martins highlighted the challenges faced during the construction phase, noting the impact on the hospital’s operations, staff and patient well-being, and on the maternity care in the Lisbon region.
The gradual opening, which involved an investment of six million euros, was necessary to respect public funds and the needs of women and their families, as well as to ensure a smooth transition towards the standardization of services.
With existing staff already allocated to this service, Carlos Martins is optimistic about avoiding the service disruptions that have recently affected other emergency and gynecology departments, particularly in the Lisbon area.
“We are fulfilling our mission. The current average of around eight births per day suggests an annual total of between 2,616 and 2,650 births, exceeding our initial target of 2,500. The focus isn’t on the numbers but on consistently being able to provide for the women and families who rely on us, both in emergency services and labor wards,” Martins stated.
The hospital’s manager expressed confidence in the planning thus far, emphasizing the aim to maintain adequate staffing levels to cover holidays and weekends by June 30.
“We remain committed to operating within the national health service network. We have relied on this network for several months, and now it’s our turn to support other hospitals, especially those experiencing challenges in nighttime or weekend operations,” Martins added.
The maternity department employs approximately 270 staff across various roles and is in the process of recruiting two additional specialist doctors, a move approved by the government. Plans are also underway to open six more positions and hire about 70 more nurses.
The goal is to have 300 professionals working in the maternity service.
Further modernization work is planned for the inpatient area, without requiring any service closures.
“We are confident in our contributions, even in challenging situations. Now, we aid the metropolitan Lisbon area and the national health service with excellent conditions,” commented Luís Mendes Graça, a physician and former department director, during the event.
The Health Minister also inaugurated the new Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, set to advance the hospital’s differentiation in transplant services, thereby improving work conditions for staff and patient well-being, according to Carlos Martins.
The new maternity facility, opened under the watch of Ana Paula Martins—who previously served as president of Hospital Santa Maria when renovations and expansion commenced in August 2023—faced controversies that led to the departure of several specialists over working and care conditions concerns.
As per the institution’s statement, this is a strategic project for ULS Santa Maria and the entire southern region of the country, poised to become the largest and most differentiated maternity unit in the country. With this facility, the hospital’s capacity to cater to pregnant women, newborns, accompanying persons, and healthcare professionals is expected to rise to 4,500 deliveries annually, up by 1,500 from previous figures.
