Friday’s strike by the nation’s nurses saw ‘several dozen’ protest outside the ministry of health in Lisbon, while countrywide, hundreds of planned surgeries were cancelled/ put off to a later date, including a number of scheduled births. Nurses’ complaints are very much along the lines of complaints throughout the public sector: “a lack of appreciation, and worsening career and salary conditions”. This protest comes a week before a new demo, called to protest against all failings within the State health service, on May 20.