Emergency Birth in Seixal: Pregnant Woman Delivers Baby in Ambulance Outside Her Home

A Dramatic Delivery in Seixal

On April 24, 2025, a baby boy was born in an ambulance belonging to the Seixal Fire Department right outside his mother's home. This urgent situation arose while they awaited instructions on which hospital to proceed to, as the obstetrics emergency services at Almada Hospital were closed.

Brázio Romeira, president of the Humanitarian Association of Seixal Firefighters, reported that the ambulance was dispatched by the Urgent Patient Orientation Center (CODU) at 16:15 to assist a pregnant woman in the Paivas area. The ambulance arrived at 16:24, where a Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (VMER) from Almada was already present.

As they awaited further directions from CODU, the woman went into labor, and her son was born at 16:45. Fortunately, both mother and baby are doing well and were later transported to Hospital S. Bernardo in Setúbal, arriving at 17:19.

This incident marks the second birth in a Seixal ambulance within a week, highlighting significant issues within the local healthcare system. Just days earlier, on Easter Sunday, another woman gave birth in an ambulance en route to Hospital S. Francisco Xavier due to similar closures at Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada.

Ongoing Healthcare Challenges

Brázio Romeira expressed concern over the frequent occurrences of emergency births due to the closure of obstetrics and gynecology services. Over the upcoming April 25 holiday, three emergency services will close, increasing to six on the weekend, predominantly affecting obstetrics and gynecology. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of specialist doctors available to cover shifts, particularly during holidays and weekends.

In response to these challenges, the General Inspectorate of Health Activities (IGAS) plans to audit these service closures, starting with Garcia de Orta Hospital and Barreiro Hospital. The audit aims to assess the situation from April 13 to May 4, coinciding with the upcoming holidays.

Urgent Need for Solutions

The director-general will visit the hospitals to discuss the audit process with medical staff and explore solutions to improve the current state of emergency services, which are critical for the community's healthcare needs.

This situation underscores the pressing need for reform in Portugal's healthcare system to ensure that pregnant women and other patients receive timely and adequate care.