The order, sent to Local Health Units, states that it is the responsibility of health service managers to identify the essential workers for the functioning of the services, particularly in inpatient units, to ensure that patients can be discharged on December 24, 26, and 31, days on which the Government has granted a day off.

The document, signed by the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, also states that when the enjoyment of the day off cannot coincide with December 24, 26, and/or 31, the top managers of the services must grant the equivalent leave “on a day or days to be determined in due course”.

The order, which defines the guidelines on the application of the time-off tolerance for workers, bodies, services and other entities under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, including the public business sector, points to the need to continue ensuring the continuity and quality of certain essential services that, for reasons of public interest, must remain in operation.