Azores Health Line reinforcement improves response to users - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, highlighted the findings of the 2025 Activity Report of the Azores Health Line (LSA), emphasising the essential role of this service in promoting faster, safer and more appropriate access to healthcare in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

Throughout 2025, the LSA recorded a total of 14,652 calls from all the islands of the archipelago, with São Miguel accounting for 82% of the total, followed by Terceira with 14.6%.

“The Azores Health Line has established itself as a key gateway to the Regional Health Service, ensuring that citizens receive safe, swift and effective guidance,” stated Mónica Seidi.

As part of the healthcare response, 3,583 consultations were booked via the LSA, 84% of which actually took place, demonstrating a high rate of attendance by service users. This indicator underlines the service’s effectiveness in coordinating with healthcare facilities as well as in managing citizens’ needs appropriately.

In late 2024, the LSA underwent a restructuring, with its management transferred to the Regional Directorate for Health. This process involved enhancing the quality and safety of care through the creation of new protocols and an increase in the daily staff-to-patient ratio, as well as increasing the team from around 10 to 49 nurses, under a reorganised shift schedule, ensuring an even more qualified, continuous and person-centred response to patients.

In 2025, the operation of the LSA represented a total investment of €221,999.50, corresponding to an average cost of €15.15 per call, which highlights the importance of this service as a tool for improving the efficiency of the healthcare system.

In 2026, the Regional Government plans to implement a series of strategic measures aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of the LSA. These include the relocation to new facilities, the introduction of more advanced monitoring systems – including call recording – and investment in technological solutions that enable integrated, data-driven management.

“We are investing in the technological modernisation of the Regional Health Service and the training of our staff to ensure a service that is increasingly accessible, efficient and patient-centred,” she added.

In addition, the technical skills of professionals will be further improved, with a particular focus on the Suicide Prevention Helpline, ensuring a more specialised, sensitive and appropriate response to users’ needs.