Identify the emergency services undergoing closure this coming Sunday.
Emergency Services in Portuguese Hospitals Affected by Doctor Shortage During Holidays
During holiday periods, such as the summer, several hospitals in Portugal are experiencing a shortage of specialist doctors, leading to closures in gynecology and obstetrics emergency services, as well as pediatric services.
The hospitals affected include Vila Franca de Xira, Almada, Setúbal, Caldas da Rainha, and Aveiro, which have closed their gynecology and obstetrics emergency rooms, and some pediatric emergency departments are also closed or limiting access to only referred cases by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) or the SNS24 helpline.
For instance, the Pediatrics service of Hospital Beatriz Ângelo in Loures will only receive children referred by INEM or the Linha SNS 24. Similarly, Amadora-Sintra, Nossa Senhora do Rosario (Barreiro), Santarem, and Leiria hospitals will only receive pregnant women referred by INEM. Lisbon's Hospital de São Francisco Xavier will only receive referred pregnant women between 20:00 and 00:00 tonight.
This staffing shortage leads to selective admissions and referrals to ensure adequate care quality despite less availability. Health authorities urge the public to use the SNS24 Line before attending emergency rooms to receive guidance on where to seek care.
This issue is particularly acute during summer holidays when many healthcare professionals take leave. The lack of specialist doctors to cover shifts is the main cause of these constraints on emergency services.
[1] Source: Health authorities' advisory [2] Source: Portuguese news outlets
- To mitigate the effects of doctor shortages during holidays, many hospitals in Portugal are improving their workplace-wellness programs to encourage healthcare professionals to stay and work, incorporating elements of science-based health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health therapies and treatments.
- Holistic health programs in hospitals could contribute to a more balanced work environment for healthcare professionals, enabling them to prevent burnout and maintain high-quality care while addressing the emergencies.
- With employee wellness being a key factor in the efficient functioning of hospitals during critical periods, implementing well-researched healthcare solutions that cover all aspects of mental, physical, and emotional health might become essential in eliminating health practitioner vacancies and ensuring continuity of service during holidays.
