Health authorities have increased bed capacity and staffing at Paphos General Hospital‘s paediatric ward following allegations made Sunday by Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos about insufficient resources and the death of a six-year-old child.
Phedonos announced on X that the ward’s capacity had increased from nine to 14 beds, with four additional staff members appointed. “They’re approaching the pre-pandemic level of 17 beds in this department. Why couldn’t you incompetent, mediocre officials do this earlier?” he wrote.
The mayor’s intervention followed two critical incidents at the hospital. In one case, a child from Polis Chrysochous with pneumonia and tachycardia had to be urgently transferred to Limassol hospital due to lack of available beds in Paphos, increasing risks due to the extended travel time.
The more serious incident involved the death of a six-year-old girl. According to Phedonos, the child, who had been suffering from gastroenteritis for five days, was taken to Paphos General Hospital but was transferred to Nicosia after a two-hour delay due to lack of beds and what he described as inability to handle the case.
“Some people don’t even respect the lives of young children. Those who leave Paphos General Hospital in this tragically inadequate state bear enormous responsibility,” Phedonos said.
The mayor noted that similar situations have been recurring for four years, criticising officials who “celebrate ‘successes'” despite the ongoing problems.
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