Healthcare workers held a two-hour work stoppage on Monday outside Nicosia General Hospital’s Emergency Department, protesting against aggressive behaviour towards staff and demanding improved security measures.
The action, organised by trade unions PASYKI, PASYNO, and PASYDY’s Nursing Branch, follows a violent incident on Saturday where a patient reportedly assaulted medical staff and brandished a knife.
Savvas Savva, Director of the Emergency Department, told reporters, “The safety of the staff is non-negotiable.” He plans to consult with hospital administration to address the issue.
Union representatives are calling for a 24-hour presence of uniformed police officers in emergency departments. Ioannis Leontiou, Head of the Nursing Staff Department, stated that the current security provided by a private company is insufficient for prompt and effective intervention.
Prodromos Argyrides, President of PASYDY’s Nursing Branch, emphasised that nurses face daily verbal abuse, adding, “It is not acceptable for there to be no uniformed police officer on a 24-hour basis.”
PASYNO President Savvas Iacovou announced plans to raise the security issue in a scheduled meeting with Cyprus President Christodoulides.
Read more:
