Dozens of people faced chaos on Friday last week as Loulé’s emergency unit closed its doors.
A small notice explained: “There are no doctors available, please go to Faro Hospital.”
But as Público newspaper explained, Faro was at bursting point – with people facing up to an hour’s delay just to have their medical conditions screened.
“Unacceptable” is how Loulé Mayor Vítor Aleixio reacted to the news, saying he feared it could happen again.
And civic group “Movement of Citizens in Defence of the Loulé Health Services” threatened to take to the streets in protest if it did.
But according to the regional health authority, new doctors are being drafted in to ensure Loulé runs smoothly in future.
Contacted by the Resident, a source confirmed that the emergency centre was back in full-force on Tuesday with a new team of doctors permanently in place.
