Overburdened medical professionals in Coimbra express concern about the jeopardized maternity services due to excessive workload and job shortage.
In Coimbra, Portugal, the local maternity hospitals are facing an influx of pregnant women due to the closures of emergencies in Aveiro and Leiria, leading to longer wait times and some pregnant women arriving without available beds.
To address this issue, healthcare professionals from Leiria are being sent to Coimbra to help with the increased workload. The ULS Coimbra, the institution responsible for the city's maternity hospitals, is attempting to balance the distribution of patients between its two city hospitals.
However, the healthcare professionals in Coimbra's maternity hospitals are facing challenging and potentially risky situations due to the increased workload. Some doctors at Bissaya Barreto's emergency department in Coimbra have presented letters of exemption from responsibility. To mitigate the problem, doctors from Leiria are being sent to Coimbra to keep the emergency department open longer.
Despite these challenges, the ULS Coimbra assures that the quality of care and safety conditions for pregnant women and newborns are not at risk in its maternity hospitals. The healthcare professionals in Coimbra are discussing their exhaustion and the potential risks for pregnant women and newborns, highlighting the need for additional support and resources.
It is worth noting that Coimbra is active in healthcare professional collaboration and specialization events, such as the 5th Meeting on Rare Bone Diseases organized by ULS Coimbra in June-July 2025. However, these events do not directly address the current conditions in Coimbra's maternity hospitals or workload-related exhaustion.
In conclusion, the closures of maternity hospitals in Aveiro and Leiria are causing a redistribution of healthcare resources, putting additional strain on Coimbra's maternity hospitals and healthcare professionals. To obtain comprehensive and updated information, consulting Portuguese regional health authorities, hospital administration statements, or local news reports would be necessary.
Science can play a significant role in finding solutions to address the workload-related exhaustion and potential risks for pregnant women and newborns in Coimbra's maternity hospitals, as medical-conditions during pregnancy and childbirth are complex and require extensive knowledge in health-and-wellness. To this end, interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare professionals, involving experts in obstetrics, gynecology, and stress management, could be beneficial in mitigating the stress levels and enhancing the overall quality of care.
