Nicosia, Cyprus. Labour union Peo’s medical workers’ branch criticised Okypy’s reorganisation plan for Athalassa hospital, warning that overcrowding and staffing gaps endanger patient care and staff safety.
Union objections to reorganisation plan
Peo said the plan “does not provide solutions to what emerged after the static studies that preceded it, which make the buildings structurally unsound.” The union criticised the decision to place “30 or more patients into specific wards that are already operating at their limits,” saying it increases the burden on employees while reducing the quality of care.
Staffing and timelines
Peo highlighted the absence of detailed staffing arrangements for patient transfers and the lack of timetables for the second construction phase. “We will not become complicit in the degradation of care services, nor will we compromise on the safety of patients and employees,” the union said, urging Okypy to complete the plan quickly in a way that accounts for safety and to immediately begin work on the second phase.
Longstanding infrastructure concerns
Concerns over Athalassa’s infrastructure have persisted for years, with mental health nurses previously reporting wards running at 120 per cent capacity, unsafe buildings, and staff shortages. Unions Pasyno and Pasyki have warned that continued use of structurally unsound buildings placed patients and staff “at immediate and real risk,” calling for urgent protective measures and a modern replacement hospital.
Political reaction and government steps
Akel described conditions at Athalassa as “shameful and dangerous,” urging the government to complete phase two of construction without delay to ensure safe, dignified care. Health minister Neophytos Charalambides chaired a meeting last month reviewing structural concerns and instructed the immediate implementation of all necessary safety measures, while initiating procedures for the second phase of the new hospital to resolve chronic problems definitively.
What steps do you think should be prioritised to ensure safety and care quality at Athalassa hospital?
