The perennial complaint that too many people are turning up at ‘Urgências’ (A&E) when really they only have a simple complaint (like the flu, or a bad cold) is being sounded in full volume this week as hospitals are struggling with staffing shortages. The message to the population is ‘call the SNS Linha 24 (808 242424). “Do not make your way ‘autonomously’ to the local A&E department”. In Lisbon, non-urgent cases can wait up to 12 hours to see a doctor.
Too many people ‘flooding’ A&E with ‘very little wrong with them’
