The executive board of the National Health Service (DE-SNS) has announced that between today and January 31, 2024 there will be 27 fully functioning maternity hospitals in mainland Portugal, out of a total of 41.
In the program “Nascer em Segurança no SNS Inverno 23/24”, released today by DE-SNS, there are also 10 maternity hospitals with scheduled closure days, three maternity hospitals that belong to the private sector and one, the maternity hospital at Santa Maria hospital, relocated due to construction work.
According to information released by DE-SNS, the Northern region will have 13 maternity hospitals in full operation, the Central region will have six in full operation and one with scheduled closure days and the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region will have four maternity hospitals in full operation, eight with scheduled closure days, one maternity hospital relocated due to construction work and three private sector maternity hospitals, under an agreement with the SNS, with guidance for pregnant women to be carried out by INEM’s Urgent Patient Guidance Center.
The Alentejo region will keep its three maternity hospitals fully operational and the Algarve region will have a fully operational emergency room in at least one of its centers, Faro or Portimão.
The operating schedule for maternity hospitals between today and January 31, 2024 is available at https://www.sns.gov.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CARTAZ-MATERNIDADES_OUTUBRO-A-JANEIRO_1700.pdf.
The DE-SNS reiterates the importance of pregnant women contacting the SNS 24 line (808 24 24 24) before resorting to health units, stressing that in emergency situations 112 should be contacted.