Unidade Local de Saúde de Gaia e Espinho

I have been living in Portugal for three years, and whenever someone in my family falls sick, we rely on our family doctor. However, when my son had a high fever (39.9°C) for five days along with conjunctivitis, I decided to take him to this hospital for a thorough check-up. From the moment I entered the Pediatric Emergency, I felt unwelcome. The security guard at the entrance, whose job was simply to print tickets, rudely questioned me, asking why I hadn’t called the 24-hour helpline instead of coming in. This was completely unnecessary and unprofessional. At the reception, things got worse. A middle-aged man gave me a disapproving look and bluntly said, “You don’t speak Portuguese, so I don’t speak English.” This attitude in a healthcare setting, where communication is crucial, was both shocking and disappointing. When I finally saw the nurse, instead of focusing on my son’s medical history, she questioned me about how long I had been in Portugal and why I still didn’t speak Portuguese. She even remarked that I should be grateful she was speaking to me because, in her opinion, in France or Spain, no one would care. This experience raises serious concerns: Why is there such a lack of kindness and patience in Portugal’s healthcare system? Why does healthcare feel biased based on nationality or race? I can’t help but wonder—if I were a white expat from America, would I have been treated differently? Healthcare should be fair, professional, and compassionate, regardless of where a patient comes from. No one should feel humiliated or discriminated against when seeking medical care, especially for a sick child. I sincerely hope the hospital trains its staff to treat all patients with respect and empathy, no matter their language or background.