Northern Portugal health centers face extreme heat due to broken air conditioning

The North Doctors' Union (SMN) has reported severe climate control failures across three health service units (ULS) in northern Portugal: Gaia/Espinho, Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde, and Alto Minho. The union warns that extreme heat, with office temperatures exceeding 40 °C, is creating dangerous conditions for both medical staff and patients.

In the Gaia/Espinho region, several family health units (USF) are reportedly operating with broken air conditioning, leading to reports of patients fainting due to thermal stress. In the Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde unit, the USF Terra e Mar has faced malfunctioning climate control since 2022, resulting in extreme heat in summer and humidity in winter. The union criticized the use of floor fans as an inadequate solution that merely circulates hot air.

Additionally, the SMN highlighted issues at the Vila Nova de Cerveira health center, where ongoing construction works are being conducted without adequate protections. This has led to high temperatures, dust accumulation, and noise levels that interfere with essential clinical tasks, such as cardiopulmonary auscultation. The union is demanding urgent repairs, temporary relocation of services, or the provision of adequate provisional cooling to ensure patient and professional safety.