The National Institute for Medical Emergency (INEM) stated that its response to a two-year-old child in Portimão on 22 October, who was suffering from food asphyxiation and cardiac arrest, met protocol requirements with an 11-minute arrival time.
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The Local Health Unit (ULS) of Algarve denied claims of inadequate care or transport issues following the death of a two-year-old child at Faro Hospital. This follows public statements from the leader of the Socialist Party questioning whether a lack of assistance contributed to the death.
The secretary-general of the PS has reported a third death within one week of patients waiting for care at the Portimão Hospital emergency department, this time involving a child. Previous incidents reported this week include an 87-year-old man who died after waiting approximately 10 hours and another patient who reportedly waited 24 hours without medical observation.
On the night of 4 November, the Portimão hospital emergency department was staffed by only one general practitioner to attend to all patients, while other specialists scheduled for the service were reportedly occupied in wards. The former director of the emergency service, who had sent over 70 warning emails to management regarding service chaos, was dismissed the day after the patient's death.