Seven emergency rooms will be closed this weekend

Six emergency rooms will be closed on Saturday and seven on Sunday, the majority of Obstetrics and Gynecology specialties in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region, according to data from the National Health Service (SNS) Portal.

According to the SNS Emergency Scales, consulted by the Lusa agency at 12:15 pm, the Gynecology and Obstetrics emergency departments at the Garcia de Orta Hospital, in Almada, the Nossa Senhora do Rosário Hospital, in Barreiro, the Vila Franca de Xira Hospital) and the Santo André Hospital, in Leiria, are expected to close over the weekend.

However, at 2:00 pm the information was updated and the Obstetrics and Gynecology emergency service at Braga Hospital will operate at full capacity on Saturday. On Sunday, it will be restricted, between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, receiving only internal emergency cases or those referred by INEM or the SNS 24 line.

The Pediatric emergency department at Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, in Loures, and Hospital Vila Franca de Xira are also expected to close over the weekend, according to information updated by local health units.

The pediatric emergency department at Hospital Amadora-Sintra will be open on both days, between midnight and 8 am and between 8 pm and midnight, receiving only internal emergency cases or those referred by INEM or the SNS 24 line.

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

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