Cyprus Nurses’ Union warns of patient life risk at Nicosia Hospital

The Cyprus Nurses’ Union filed a serious complaint regarding a threat, which it claims affected two patients due to inadequate care at Nicosia General Hospital.

The union’s General Secretary Savvas Iakovou stated that both patients were admitted through the emergency department but were not transferred to the specialized wards. Instead, they were temporarily placed in another ward, which, according to him, was not functioning properly due to overcrowding and staff shortages.

"The wards are understaffed because we don’t have personnel. It is the Organization’s decision not to ensure the full operation of the wards," Iakovou said.

According to the complaint, the specified ward lacked necessary supervision from experienced medical staff, resulting in cardiac arrest in both patients.

"They were resuscitated, but their lives were at serious risk. One of the patients is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit," he noted.

The complaint drew a strong reaction from the Cyprus State Health Services Organization. Its representative Charalambos Charalilau emphasized that cases of cardiac arrest in hospitals occur daily.

"Currently, at least 20 patients in Nicosia General Hospital are not in specialized wards. Does this mean that all of them are in danger and that we are putting patients at risk?" he questioned.

He stated that one of the mentioned cases involved an orthopedic patient, and the second was in the pulmonology profile. Charalilau stressed that the seasonal overcrowding typical for this time of year cannot serve as a basis for such statements, which he believes do not reflect reality.

It was also noted that state nurses’ unions recently issued statements saying that the 2026 budget for the state healthcare system has still not been approved. This, in turn, makes it impossible to recruit additional personnel for public hospitals.