The Almada Seixal Local Health Unit (ULSAS), in the district of Setúbal, made the announcement on its Facebook page, without providing further details. However, when questioned by the Lusa agency, ULSAS explained that the "reasons of force majeure" are related to the impossibility of completing the medical team. At the beginning of the month, ULSAS indicated that, in May, the obstetrics and gynaecology emergency service at the Garcia de Orta hospital would only assist women who were referred during the night period (between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am), according to a Resolution of the Executive Board of the National Health Service (DE-SNS). This situation remains as planned. The emergency room would also remain closed on weekends (from 8:00 am on Saturday to 8:00 am on Monday), as was the case, with the exception of the third weekend in May (May 18 and 19), when it would be fully operational. However, today, ULSAS announced that it will also be closed this weekend. On April 30, the resigning DE-SNS published a note on its page announcing that it had decided to maintain, in general, until May 31, the operating scheme of the Gynaecology/Obstetrics Emergency Services that was in force until the first quarter of the year. "Given the technical complexity associated with the proposed changes and the need for their detailed assessment by the supervisory authority in a context of transition of the leadership of the SNS Executive Board, it is considered, once again, advisable to temporarily maintain the current model, during the month of May", reads the note from the executive board. According to the note, there would be, however, "specific and urgent changes regarding the institutions located in the Setúbal Peninsula, until there is a strategic decision on the future of this operating model". The information released by DE-SNS did not list, this time, the operating scheme for obstetric emergencies at the national level, asking pregnant women to "always contact SNS 24 or INEM (in case of urgency/emergency), so that they can be safely directed to the nearest delivery block, which has the capacity to respond adequately to their clinical condition". On April 23, the executive director of SNS announced his resignation, along with his team, claiming not to want to be an obstacle to the Government in the policies and measures it deems necessary. A day later, the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, accepted the resignation, stressing that the end of the term will be effective with the submission of a report on the activity and the situation of the SNS executive board within 60 days. The Executive Board began its activity on January 1, 2023, following the new SNS Statute proposed by the then Minister Marta Temido, with the aim of coordinating the assistance response of all SNS units and modernising its management. Read Also: Almada obstetrics night emergency only for referred pregnant women (Portuguese version)