Pregnant woman’s death causes outrage over crisis-hit Portugal health service

Health minister quit this week after woman, 34, died while being moved from hospital due to lack of space

The death of a pregnant woman who could not receive treatment in Lisbon's main hospital because of a lack of capacity has been met with outrage in Portugal, where a months-long health crisis has shut emergency services across the country and put maternity care under extreme pressure.

The 34-year-old woman was admitted to Lisbon's Santa Maria hospital on 23 August with respiratory problems and high blood pressure. Owing to a lack of space in the neonatal service, she was transferred to another hospital, but she died after a heart attack in the ambulance.