Lisbon Hospital Emergency Rooms: Which One to Go To and When
Lisbon has several big public emergency departments, each tied to a local health unit, plus separate ERs for children and childbirth. Calling SNS 24 first decides where you go and whether you pay.
In Lisbon, adults with a serious problem are usually seen at the emergency departments (urgências) of Hospital de Santa Maria, Hospital de São José or Hospital de São Francisco Xavier, children at Hospital Dona Estefânia and in pregnancy at the Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa or other hospital maternity ERs. For a life-threatening emergency, call 112; otherwise call SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24 first.
A call to SNS 24 can send you to the right place, often a health center instead of a hospital, and a referral from the SNS means you pay no emergency fee. The information below is as of November 2026; ER schedules in Lisbon change, especially for obstetrics and pediatrics, so always check before you go.
Which hospital ER should I go to in Lisbon?
Lisbon’s public hospitals are grouped into local health units (Unidades Locais de Saúde, ULS), which also run the health centers in their area. The main emergency departments:
| Hospital | Local health unit | Main emergency role |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital de Santa Maria | ULS Santa Maria | Central adult emergency department, plus specialty ERs such as ear, nose and throat |
| Hospital de São José | ULS São José | Adult emergency department in the city center |
| Hospital Dona Estefânia | ULS São José | Children’s hospital with pediatric emergency care |
| Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa | ULS São José | Maternity hospital for pregnancy and childbirth |
| Hospital de São Francisco Xavier | ULS Lisboa Ocidental | General and obstetric emergency for western Lisbon |
Which hospital covers you depends on where you live, but in an emergency you can go to any SNS emergency department. For a serious accident or a suspected heart attack or stroke, do not drive yourself: call 112, and INEM, the national medical emergency institute, will decide which hospital to take you to.
Should I call SNS 24 before going to the ER?
Yes, unless it is a clear emergency. SNS 24 (808 24 24 24) is staffed by health professionals who can direct you to self-care, a same-day health center appointment or a hospital emergency department, and they record the referral in the SNS system.
Under the national “Ligue Antes, Salve Vidas” (Call First, Save Lives) project, SNS 24 sends less urgent cases to health centers, which have added same-day appointments for them. Our guide to the SNS 24 helpline explains how a call works and what to say.
Do I pay at a Lisbon emergency room?
Since June 2022, SNS user fees (taxas moderadoras) are charged only in hospital emergency departments, and not when you are referred by the SNS, for example by SNS 24 or a health center, or when you are admitted to hospital from the ER. Children, pregnant women, people with a disability of 60% or more and low-income households are among the groups exempt in any case.
- Go on your own initiative, are not admitted and are not exempt: a fee may be charged.
- Referred by SNS 24 or your health center: no fee.
- Admitted to a ward from the ER: no fee.
Foreign residents should register with the SNS and get a user number before they need it; see our guide to the SNS user number. Visitors from the EU use their European Health Insurance Card.
What do the triage colors mean?
Portuguese public emergency departments use the Manchester Triage System (Triagem de Manchester). A nurse assesses you on arrival and gives you a colored wristband that sets your priority, not your arrival time.
| Color | Priority |
|---|---|
| Red | Emergency, seen immediately |
| Orange | Very urgent |
| Yellow | Urgent |
| Green | Less urgent |
| Blue | Not urgent |
Green and blue cases can wait many hours in a busy Lisbon ER, and are the ones most often better treated at a health center. If your symptoms get worse while you wait, tell the triage staff at once.
Why are some emergency departments closed on certain days?
Some specialty ERs in the Lisbon region, mainly obstetrics and gynecology and some pediatric services, have worked on rotating schedules in recent years because of staff shortages. On those days, pregnant women and children are directed to another hospital in the region.
- Before you go, call SNS 24, which knows which emergency departments are open.
- Check the SNS waiting-times site, tempos.min-saude.pt, which shows average waiting times at SNS emergency departments.
- If you are pregnant, ask your obstetric team or health center which maternity ER to use and save the number.
What should I bring to the ER?
Bring your ID (residence card or passport), your SNS user number, a list of medicines and allergies, and any recent test results. A charged phone and a contact person’s number help during a long wait.
If you do not speak Portuguese, say so at triage and bring written notes of your symptoms, ideally with a Portuguese translation. Keep 112 for emergencies; our guide to emergency numbers in Portugal lists the other lines.
Bottom line
Save 808 24 24 24 and 112 in your phone and use SNS 24 as the front door: it avoids the fee, it knows which obstetric and pediatric ERs are open that day, and it can book a health center slot instead. Go straight to the ER, or call 112, only when symptoms cannot wait for the call.
FAQ
Where do I take a sick child at night in Lisbon?
Call SNS 24 first. Pediatric emergency care in central Lisbon is at Hospital Dona Estefânia and Hospital de Santa Maria, but schedules change, so confirm which ER is open.
Can I go to any hospital or only my own?
In an emergency you can go to any SNS emergency department. For follow-up care, you will usually be sent to the hospital or health center linked to your address.
Are private hospital ERs an option?
Yes, private hospitals in Lisbon run their own emergency services, paid privately or through health insurance. They are not part of the SNS fee rules.
What if I need medicine after the ER at night?
Take the prescription to an on-duty pharmacy; see our guide to the on-duty pharmacy in Lisbon.
