Patients triaged with yellow wristbands at Fernando Fonseca Hospital, in Amadora, are waiting over 12 hours for a first medical observation. This situation refers to urgent cases that, although not considered emergent, require medical attention within a short timeframe.
The Minister of Health publicly admitted that the hospital faces a high shortage of doctors and nurses, which contributes to the long waiting times. This lack of health professionals has been overloading the emergency department.
Fernando Fonseca Hospital, which serves a significant population of the Lisbon metropolitan area, has been frequently pointed out as one of the hospitals with the highest healthcare pressure. The situation worsens especially during periods of higher demand, such as in the winter months.
Health authorities acknowledge the severity of the situation and point to the lack of human resources as the main cause of the long waits. No immediate measures to resolve the problem were announced in the article.
