5 gynecology/obstetrics emergencies closed

Five emergency gynecology and obstetrics services as well as the Pediatrics service at Vila Franca de Xira Hospital are closed this Sunday, according to information available on the National Health Service (SNS) portal.

According to the schedules consulted by Lusa on Saturday at 11 pm, the gynecology and obstetrics emergency departments at the hospitals in Almada, Setúbal, Caldas da Rainha, Aveiro and Vila Franca de Xira are closed again this Sunday.

At Vila França de Xira Hospital, in addition to the gynecology and obstetrics service , the pediatric emergency service has also been closed.

Only pregnant women referred by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) will be admitted to the gynecology and obstetrics emergency departments at the Amadora-Sintra and Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Barreiro) hospitals and the hospitals in Santarém and Leiria this Sunday, August 10.

At night, between 8:00 pm and midnight, Hospital São Francisco Xavier, in Lisbon, will also only receive referred pregnant women.

The Pediatrics service at Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, in Loures, will also only receive children this Sunday who have been referred by INEM or the SNS 24 Line.

The constraints on emergency services are mainly due to the lack of specialist doctors to staff the shifts, a situation that is more common during holiday periods, such as summer.

Health authorities urge the public to contact the SNS24 Line (808 24 24 24) before going to an emergency room to receive appropriate guidance.