Six NHS emergency departments closed on Saturday and seven on Sunday

Six emergency rooms will be closed on Saturday and seven on Sunday, one in Pediatrics and the rest in Gynecology and Obstetrics, according to the National Health Service (SNS) Portal consulted by Lusa at 12:00 pm this Friday.

The Obstetrics and Gynecology emergency departments at the Barreiro, Vila Franca de Xira, Aveiro and Leiria hospitals will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, according to the emergency schedules on the portal.

Those at the Caldas da Rainha Hospital will only be closed on Saturday, while those at the Garcia de Orta and Santarém hospitals will only close on Sunday.

The pediatric emergency department at Vila Franca de Xira Hospital is also scheduled to close over the weekend.

As for the emergency services referred, which only receive cases referred by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) or the SNS 24 line, the portal indicates the pediatric services at Hospital Amadora-Sintra (between 00:00 and 08:00 and 20:00 and 24:00) and Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, in Loures (00:00 and 24:00) on Saturday and Sunday.

The same applies to the Gynecology and Obstetrics emergencies at Amadora-Sintra Hospital between 8:00 am and midnight on both days and to those at São Francisco Xavier (Western Lisbon) between midnight and 8:00 am on Saturday.

Also, the obstetrics and gynecology emergencies at Hospital São Bernardo (Setúbal), between 8:00 am and midnight, and at Hospital de Braga, between 8:00 pm and midnight, will only respond to cases referred during the weekend.

Health authorities urge the public to contact the SNS 24 Line (808 24 24 24) before going to an emergency room to receive appropriate guidance.