Portugal's Healthcare Strains: Long Waits and More Births Outside Maternity Wards
Residents of Portugal have faced challenges with healthcare services this year. A patient from Famalicão endured a lengthy wait and multiple attempts to be attended to on the SNS 24 line. Meanwhile, an unusual increase in births outside of maternity wards has been reported, with two recent incidents making headlines.
In a concerning incident, a patient from Famalicão had to make four attempts and wait over three hours to be attended to on the SNS 24 line. The patient's calls dropped after 40 minutes of waiting, adding to the frustration. The waiting time on the SNS 24 line has been much longer than what is provided for in the current contracts, raising concerns about the service's efficiency.
In a separate development, there has been an unusual increase in births outside of maternity wards. Between January and July 2025, there were only seven more births in ambulances compared to the same period in 2024. Around 60 such births have been performed since the beginning of the year. Two recent incidents include a baby born in the reception of Hospital Santos Silva, in Gaia, falling to the floor and hitting its head, and another baby born in an ambulance from the firefighters of Moita, the 15th birth assisted by these professionals this year. The state of obstetrics within the NHS in Portugal for this period is unclear due to lack of available data.
The lengthy wait times on the SNS 24 line and the increase in births outside of maternity wards highlight the need for improved healthcare services in Portugal. Authorities must address these issues promptly to ensure the safety and well-being of patients and newborns.
