Setúbal Peninsula launches emergency obstetrics unit amid chronic staff shortages

A new emergency gynaecology and obstetrics unit began operating on April 15 to tackle severe staff shortages across the Setúbal Peninsula. The service now runs from two hospitals: Garcia de Orta in Almada and São Bernardo in Setúbal. The move follows repeated closures and an audit exposing deep structural flaws in local healthcare provision.

The unit’s launch comes after months of disruption, with emergency obstetrics departments shutting down on nearly 80% of days in early 2025. Patients and officials had raised concerns over limited access to critical care for pregnant women in the region. An independent audit uncovered serious weaknesses in the South Lisbon and Tagus Valley Local Health Unit (ULSAR), which serves around 220,000 people. The report warned that staff shortages and operational failures threatened the continuity and quality of care. In the first six months of 2025, the obstetrics emergency department closed for an average of 18.7 days each month.

The unit had only 11 specialist physicians, but just seven were available for emergency obstetrics. Pay gaps between contract workers and permanent staff added to dissatisfaction, worsening the crisis. On three consecutive days in April—20, 25, and 26—all three emergency obstetrics services on the south bank of the Tagus shut simultaneously due to a lack of specialists.

ULSAR had long relied on outsourced providers to fill gaps, but the shortages persisted. The closure of Barreiro Hospital’s emergency obstetrics department faced strong opposition from local officials and patient groups, though its maternity ward stayed open. The audit followed multiple reports of unavailability, leaving pregnant women with limited healthcare options.

The new regional unit aims to centralise resources and improve access. However, the underlying staffing issues remain unresolved, with no immediate plan to address the disparities or recruitment challenges. The Setúbal Peninsula’s emergency obstetrics services now operate from two key hospitals, but the system still faces instability. With closures affecting nearly four out of five days earlier this year, the region’s healthcare providers must address long-term staffing shortages. The audit’s findings highlight the need for structural changes to ensure reliable access to emergency care for pregnant women.