Emergency services for six social networking sites were shut down on Saturday, with eight more shutting down on Sunday.
Portuguese hospitals are making changes to their gynaecology and obstetrics emergency services over weekends, primarily due to resource constraints and restructuring efforts. Hospitals in Barreiro, Vila Franca de Xira, Abrantes, Santarém district, Santo André, and Child Dom, among others, have reported closures [1][3].
This move seems to be part of a broader healthcare reorganization, which includes investments in new hospital facilities. For instance, a €10 million investment led to the opening of a new CUF Barreiro Clinic, offering expanded services and specialties, including obstetrics and gynaecology, with the aim of improving access and service quality over time [2]. Temporary weekend closures appear to be a measure to manage limited resources while transitioning to more centralized or better-equipped units.
The impact on nursing working hours is significant. The closures of emergency departments could potentially reduce weekend shifts for nursing staff, increase workload in other hospital units, and require staff reallocation or adjustments to shift patterns to cover demand in remaining open units. However, specific data on nursing working hours changes due to these closures was not found in the search results [1][2][3].
In total, approximately 128 emergency services will operate nationwide. The lack of specialist doctors is the main cause of constraints in emergency services, especially during holiday periods like summer. The government is currently in negotiations regarding the organization of nursing working hours.
Several hospitals, including Hospital São Francisco Xavier and Hospital Amadora-Sintra, will only receive cases referred by specific bodies during the weekend. For example, the gynaecology and obstetrics emergency service at Hospital São Francisco Xavier will only receive cases referred by the CODU of the INEM, while the paediatric emergency at Hospital Amadora-Sintra will only receive internal or INEM/line SNS 24 referred urgent cases.
Additionally, the gynaecology and obstetrics emergencies of Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário, Hospital Vila Franca de Xira, Hospital Distrital das Caldas da Rainha, Hospital Infante Dom Pedro, Hospital de Santo André, and Hospital Garcia de Orta will be closed on both Saturday and Sunday. The obstetrics emergency at Hospital Distrital de Santarém will be closed on Sunday, and on Sunday, the emergency service of these specialties at Hospital Doutor Manoel Constâncio will only receive patients referred by the INEM, between 21:00 and 24:00.
The public is urged to contact the SNS24 line (808 24 24 24) before visiting an emergency service for appropriate guidance. Around 30 gynaecology and obstetrics services will function as part of a pilot project, requiring prior contact with the SNS 24 line.
[1] https://www.sapo.pt/noticias/saudade/2021-09-13/emergencias-de-ginecologia-e-obstetricia-fechadas-sobre-fin-de-semana-em-varios-hospitais-portugueses/1791961 [2] https://www.portugalresident.com/new-barreiro-clinic-opened-in-portugal/ [3] https://www.jornaldeporto.pt/2021/09/13/emergencias-de-ginecologia-e-obstetricia-fechadas-sobre-fin-de-semana-em-varios-hospitais-portugueses/3671705/
What changes in healthcare reorganization involving medical-conditions such as women's health, particularly in gynaecology and obstetrics emergency services over weekends, have been implemented in Portuguese hospitals due to resource constraints and restructuring efforts? Health-and-wellness facilities like the new CUF Barreiro Clinic have opened to offer expanded services, including obstetrics and gynaecology, as part of efforts to improve access and service quality over time.
