"[The number of nurses] joining the strike has increased. Last night [Sunday] it was at 80% and this morning it increased to 85%," José de Azevedo, president of the Nurses' Union, told Lusa.

The official also reported some incidents, such as registration of unjustified absences in Caldas da Rainha and that one nurse who was on strike in Faro and who is the head of the delivery room was not allowed to remain in the department.

"Apart from these situations, the strike is going well," said Azevedo, who was speaking during a demonstration in which he took part outside the S. João Hospital in Porto.

The strike was set by the Independent Union of Nursing Professionals (SIPE) and the Nurses' Union (SE) for between 00:00 today and 24:00 on Friday.

Azevedo also said that the strike affects scheduled services, which are closed, but ensures that nurses are providing primary care in situations where there are urgent treatments to be done at home.

"Everything that is scheduled is closed. Paediatrics, psychiatry and the emergency room, an emergency intensive care units, have no minimum services," he said.

The nurses are demanding the introduction of the category of specialist in the nursing profession, with respective salary increases, as well as a 35-hour work week for all nurses, but the Secretary of State for Employment said this strike was irregular, alleging that the amount of notice did not meet the ten working days set out in the law.

Despite this, the nurses continued with the national strike, noting the refusal of the Ministry of Health to accept the proposal of gradual updating of salaries and introduction of the specialist category to the profession.