Nicosia, Cyprus. A surprise Audit Office inspection of state hospital accident and emergency units found long waits for inpatient admission and irregular paperwork, issues discussed in parliament on Thursday.
Unannounced inspection and scope
Audit Office functionaries carried out an unannounced visit around midnight on September 30 last year, inspecting the A&E units at Nicosia general hospital and Limassol general hospital. Their task was to document organisational and procedural flaws rather than assess the quality of healthcare provided to patients. The Audit Office later published its report on February 19.
Staffing and response times
The audit found that both A&E units were adequately staffed by medical personnel. Specialist doctors and resident doctors were physically present and responded within the standard time of 30 minutes.
Paperwork signed by resident doctors
The inspection identified cases in which admission paperwork for A&E patients admitted as inpatients was signed by resident doctors rather than specialist doctors on duty, in breach of Okypy regulations. The paperwork bore the resident doctor’s signature without indicating that the resident had conferred with the specialist before signing. The Audit Office said this practice poses risks of erroneous or inadequately substantiated clinical decisions, with possible adverse impacts on patient service, and could expose Okypy and the doctors involved to legal liability.
Waiting times for inpatient admission
The report also highlighted long waiting times for patients visiting A&E units and later admitted as inpatients. At Nicosia general hospital, the average time before inpatient admission was five hours and 15 minutes, while at Limassol general hospital it was two hours and 49 minutes.
How should Okypy address the reported paperwork breaches and long waiting times in A&E units?
