Portugal emergency departments face rising wait times and new triage models

Emergency departments in Portugal are experiencing divergent trends. In the Greater Lisbon area, wait times have surged, with patients at Hospital Amadora-Sintra reportedly waiting over nine hours, and in some cases up to 15 hours, for their first medical observation. The hospital has attributed a lack of available data on its portal to ongoing information system interventions.

Other regional hospitals, such as those in Loures, Barreiro, and Almada, also reported significant delays for urgent cases, exceeding the recommended 60-minute threshold. Conversely, some facilities in the Algarve, such as Portimão, have seen wait times stabilize or decrease.

In Leiria, the Santo André Hospital is implementing a new triage model to improve patient safety and efficiency. The model utilizes a Nursing Initial Observation Station (PPOE) and the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) to monitor patients and identify those at risk of rapid deterioration. This system allows nurses to initiate diagnostic protocols early, ensuring results are available by the time a physician conducts the initial assessment.