Locate closed emergency rooms over the weekend.
In Portugal, several urgent care units specializing in gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics are temporarily closed, leaving residents in need of urgent care in these areas to seek alternative options.
The national health service, Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), has announced the closure of six urgent care units on both Saturday and Sunday. These closures affect hospitals in Aveiro, Vila Franca de Xira, Setúbal, Leiria, Caldas da Rainha, and S. Francisco Xavier in Lisbon. Additionally, the pediatric unit in Vila Franca de Xira will also be closed on both days.
However, hope is not lost as several referral urgent care units will be operational during these times. The gynecology and obstetrics unit at Setúbal will function as a referral unit on Sunday, and the pediatric unit at Amadora-Sintra will serve as a referral unit from 20:00 to 24:00. Furthermore, the referral urgent care unit at Hospital Doutor Fernando da Fonseca (Amadora-Sintra) will function on Saturday and Sunday nights (00:00/08:00 and 20:00 to 24:00). The referral urgent care unit at Hospital Beatriz Ângelo (Loures) will also be operational during these hours.
The gynecology and obstetrics unit at Hospital de Braga and S. Francisco Xavier are referral units, and the pediatric unit at Amadora-Sintra is a referral unit from 20:00 to 24:00. The referral urgent care unit at Hospital Doutor Fernando da Fonseca (Amadora-Sintra) will function on Saturday and Sunday nights (00:00/08:00 and 20:00 to 24:00). The gynecology and obstetrics unit at Setúbal will function as a referral unit on Sunday.
Health authorities are urging the public to contact Linha SNS24 (808 24 24 24) before going to an urgent care unit for appropriate guidance. This hotline will provide guidance and referrals to the appropriate emergency or specialized care units, such as basic emergency services or hospital departments like the new Sintra Hospital’s basic emergency department.
The new Sintra Hospital, which opened recently, offers a basic emergency service capable of handling various urgent care cases, including possibly non-critical gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatric emergencies, to relieve pressure on larger hospitals nearby. This facility serves approximately 550,000 people and has outpatient services and emergency care equipped to handle many cases locally.
If specialized urgent care in gynecology, obstetrics, or pediatrics is not available at local basic emergency services due to closures, patients must rely on telephone triage and referral via SNS24 to direct them to the nearest hospital with these specialized services. Larger hospitals in the region that maintain specialized emergency departments may also be an option, as well as outpatient consultations and scheduled urgent consultations, pending availability.
In summary, during these times of urgent care closures, it is crucial to contact SNS24 (808 242 424) first for urgent referrals in gynecology, obstetrics, and pediatrics. Use hospital basic emergency units such as Sintra Hospital’s new facility for urgent but non-life-threatening cases. Severe cases are referred to specialized hospital emergency departments as directed by SNS24. Outpatient and consultation services may supplement urgent care but depend on the hospital’s capacity.
This reflects the current structure following closures and openings of urgent care services but lacks a comprehensive listing of all local referral urgent care clinics specifically for these specialties.
- Considering the temporary closures of several urgent care units in Portugal, individuals requiring urgent medical attention for gynecology, obstetrics, or pediatrics should contact the national health service's hotline, Linha SNS24 (808 24 24 24), for appropriate guidance and referrals.
- Amidst the disruption of regular urgent care services, health-and-wellness seekers may find temporary alternatives in referral units like the gynecology and obstetrics unit at Setúbal and the pediatric unit at Amadora-Sintra, or the new Sintra Hospital's basic emergency service, which offers care for various urgent conditions.
