# Portuguese hospital emergency room wait times

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/portuguese-hospital-emergency-room-wait-times
> Updated: 2026-08-15T11:39:17.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Emergency departments across Portugal have reported significant delays in medical observation. On August 13, 2026, wait times reached over 11 hours at Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Barreiro, while hospitals in the Setúbal Peninsula, Lisbon, and the Algarve reported waits between six and seven hours. Health Minister Ana Paula Martins attributed these delays to seasonal staff holidays and peaks in demand, though she noted that conditions were better than in 2023 and 2024.

By August 15, 2026, data from the National Health Service indicated that wait times for urgent patients at Faro Hospital in the Algarve had increased to an average of 15 hours and 52 minutes. While most other hospital units in the country maintained average waits of less than two hours, the Faro and Portimão hospitals continued to show significant regional pressure.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-15: Faro Hospital reports nearly 16-hour wait for urgent patients

Urgent patients at Faro Hospital in the Algarve faced average wait times of nearly 16 hours for medical observation on August 15, significantly exceeding national averages.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/faro-hospital-reports-nearly-16-hour-wait-for-urgent-patients

### 2026-08-13: Portugal emergency rooms report high wait times

Portuguese emergency departments are facing high demand, with wait times exceeding 11 hours in some locations like Barreiro. Health Minister Ana Paula Martins noted improvements since 2023 despite current peaks

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/portuguese-hospitals-report-rising-emergency-room-wait-times

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Cite as: Portuguese hospital emergency room wait times. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/portuguese-hospital-emergency-room-wait-times