Local Health Unit Gaia and Espinho

Horrible experience at the Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia e Espinho. I presented to the Emergency Department at approximately 03:00 a.m. due to chest pain, breathing difficulty when lying down, nausea and back pain. After triage, I was assigned a yellow (urgent) priority level and underwent an ECG as part of standard protocol. Despite this, I was not seen or evaluated by a physician for approximately 7 hours. The observed average waiting time per patient being called from the waiting room appeared to be approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, with extended periods where no patients were called. There appeared to be only 1–2 doctors attending patients in the emergency area at that time, close to a period of planned healthcare strike activity, which may have affected staffing levels and willingness to see patients. During the waiting period, staff were unable and unwilling to provide information regarding queue position or estimated waiting time. The physician who eventually evaluated me provided good care; however, the overall emergency department experience prior to that was extremely poor due to the prolonged waiting time and lack of communication. I am submitting this report to document the prolonged delay in emergency care and its impact on my condition and wellbeing.