Hospital waiting times: how long will I have to wait at A&E?
Lately, hospital emergency departments have been the subject of much discussion, mainly because of the long waiting times, which has worried a great many people. The good news is that there are simple ways to find out which services are open and what the waiting times are at A&E. Want to know how? Read on in our article.
Do you already know the SNS interactive map?
If there is one thing that can make your life easier when you need to go to a hospital emergency service, it is the interactive map available on the portal of the SNS (the Portuguese National Health Service). This tool lets you find out, in real time, which emergency services are operating and their respective opening hours.
How does it work?
It is very simple: the map is divided by region and lets you search by type of emergency (general, paediatric, obstetric, etc.). Active services appear in green, while closed ones appear in red. The map is updated every hour and helps anyone who needs urgent care and wants to avoid unnecessary journeys.
You can access the map directly on the SNS portal to check which is the nearest unit that is open.
Health centres open "out of hours"
The Out-of-Hours Health Centres (Centros de Saúde Fora de Horas) are units that offer care during extended hours, including nights, weekends and public holidays, for cases that do not require hospital emergency care.
On the portal of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Health Administration (ARSLVT), you can consult the full list of available units, their opening hours and the services provided at each centre.
Waiting times at A&E
As well as knowing whether the emergency department is open, the big question is: how long will I have to wait?
Also on the SNS portal, you can also check the average waiting times for each hospital unit. The system is presented through colours, indicating the priority and the estimated average time to be seen. The colours reflect the severity of the case, determined by triage, and have the following recommended waiting times:
- Red (emergent situation): immediate care (0 minutes)
- Orange (very urgent situation): care recommended within 10 minutes of triage
- Yellow (urgent situation): care recommended within 60 minutes of triage
- Green (less urgent situation): may wait to be seen within 120 minutes (two hours)
- Blue (non-urgent situation): may wait up to 240 minutes (four hours) to be seen.
On this portal, you can check the waiting times for all areas of the selected hospital, such as general medicine, paediatrics, surgery, internal medicine, among others. The times shown refer to the average of the last two hours, and the number of patients waiting is also updated in real time.
A&E at private hospitals: can they be an alternative?
If the waiting time is very long or if the nearest public emergency department is closed, private hospitals can be an option. Although they involve additional costs, they are a viable choice in situations where time is crucial.
CUF A&E: waiting time
CUF offers a Walk-in Care and Unscheduled Medical Care service, available from the north to the south of the country. The emergency services are separated into Adults and Paediatrics, ensuring specialised care for each age group. On the official website, you can check the opening hours of each hospital or clinic.
Waiting time at Hospital Lusíadas
Hospital Lusíadas has an Urgent Care Unit in the Adults, Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics specialities, with no need to book, available 24 hours, every day.
Hospital da Luz: waiting times
The Urgent Care service at Hospital da Luz is intended for acute, sudden-onset health situations that are not emergencies but require fast, effective medical assistance within a short period of time.
What to do if you are unsure?
If you do not know where to go or whether the nearest emergency department is open, we recommend calling SNS 24 (808 24 24 24). This service not only carries out the initial triage but also tells you the nearest unit with the shortest waiting time.
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