The Cyprus Nurses Union (PASYNO) has issued an urgent warning about unprecedented conditions at Nicosia General Hospital‘s Emergency Department, saying it risks collapse due to overwhelming patient numbers and staff shortages.
The union said in a statement that the emergency department, which serves patients from across Cyprus, is only functioning due to “dedicated efforts of medical and nursing staff” amid severe overcrowding and lengthy waiting times.
A critical bottleneck has developed as patients await hospital bed availability, with ambulances frequently forced to queue at the hospital, reducing emergency response capability across the island.
“Staff are working under constant pressure, moving from one case to another, with daily battles for available beds in occupied wards”, the union said.
PASYNO called on the Health Ministry and the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) to address the crisis, urging them to pressure private sector emergency departments to accept more patients rather than selecting only profitable cases.
“Patient health is neither a commodity nor money”, the union stated, warning that without resolving these issues, public hospitals cannot achieve autonomy or maintain quality healthcare services.
(information from CNA)
