The planned three-hour work stoppage at state hospital A&E departments announced by the state doctors union (Pasyki) on Monday is underway. During the 9 am -12 pm work stoppage, patients will be served according to the severity of their condition.
In a statement, the doctors union denounced serious long-standing understaffing issues and a resultant lack of safety at hospitals due to doctors having to work overtime hours without rest or support.
It is now impossible for the A&E departments to operate safely with the existing understaffing and the additional workload that the departments doctors have to face with short-term hospitalisations of Covid-19 positive patients, Pasyki announced.
It is added that A&E doctors are forced to work overtime without a day of rest and in some cases up to 18-hour work days which is to the detriment of the public. According to the union conditions are particularly dire in the Limassol and Paphos general hospitals.
The state health services organisation (Okypy) countered that the work stoppage is directed against the public and unjustifiable, depriving the public of access to health services.
In its announcement, Okypy acknowledged the increased workload due to the pandemic and said the understaffing claims were exaggerated., adding that during leave periods, especially in the summer months, all the necessary arrangements are made to continue the smooth operation of the organisations hospitals.
The Board of Directors of Okypy took specific measures to upgrade all A&E departments, with the aim of continuously improving the services offered to our fellow citizens, the announcement concluded.
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