Beach health units kept very busy this summer in the Algarve, providing a total of 9,557 medical consultations to beachgoers. However, most were to treat only minor health issues.
According to data from health authority ARS/Algarve, most of the consultations (5,743) focused on basic treatments, like stitches.
Coming in second were blood pressure checks (1,861), followed by the treatment of extremely painful ‘peixe aranha’ (spider fish) stings (936), administration of vaccines (539) and finally blood sugar tests (295).
As these units are only meant to treat minor health issues, 192 people with more serious problems were transferred to other health centres.
Further data shows that the unit in Armação de Pêra registered the highest number of consultations (782), followed by Manta Rota (647), Monte Gordo (643) and Quarteira (642).
Most of the units’ patients were non-locals (73.3%), with 60.3% of ‘outsiders’ being Portuguese from other parts of the country, and 13% being foreigners.
The beachside heath units were open for the months of July, August and the first half of September.
