Newsroom
In the ongoing crisis surrounding Cyprus’ overstretched emergency services, officials have announced that the much-delayed new Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at Larnaca General Hospital will be handed over on July 25, but many are skeptical.
During a heated session of the Parliamentary Health Committee on Thursday, lawmakers expressed concern about whether that timeline is realistic and raised red flags about understaffing, security issues, and the lack of basic infrastructure at both Larnaca and Famagusta general hospitals.
According to the State Health Services Organization (OKYpY), the new A&E unit in Larnaca will feature 11 exam beds, five short-stay beds, two isolation rooms, and a pediatric section. Yet even now, with just three beds, the department is forced to treat 130 patients per day, compared to Nicosia Hospital’s 20 beds for the same patient volume.
The emergency departments at both hospitals are also operating with too few doctors and nurses, a situation made worse during the busy summer season. OKYpY says it’s trying to fill the gaps, with interviews for new doctors scheduled next week and a plan to expand Larnaca’s ER staffing to 15 doctors by September. But some MPs and medical professionals warned that the current staff is stretched too thin to meet demand.
Adding to the strain are security concerns after a police officer was assaulted inside Larnaca’s ER. While additional police and private security have since been assigned to the hospital, MPs stressed that more needs to be done to protect frontline staff and patients.
Critics also slammed OKYpY and the project contractor for the repeated delays in completing the new A&E wing. Although the handover is officially scheduled for late July, some MPs questioned whether the contractor, who they say has a history of missing deadlines, will actually deliver.
Others pointed to patients left waiting outside in the rain and wards without direct nurse supervision, calling the current conditions not just unacceptable but dangerous.
Despite the grim picture, OKYpY said that major renovation work for Larnaca’s old hospital wing is in the pipeline, and tenders will soon be announced for upgrades including new elevators and kitchen facilities.
Still, the message from the committee was clear: time is running out, and the system cannot afford any more delays.
“In healthcare,” one MP said bluntly, “there’s no room for discounts or compromises.”
