Filenews 25 August 2022 - by Marilena Panayi
From the following Monday, 5 September, the afternoon operation of public hospitals begins, which will now offer outpatient services daily from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to those patients who wish to visit a doctor of any specialty, after first arranging their appointment. At the same time, but on the basis of the waiting lists that already exist, surgical and other operations will be performed in public hospitals and afternoons.
As the spokesperson of the SHSO, Charalambos Charilaou, said while speaking to "F", "the Organization is proceeding on the basis of the timetable set and the operation of the outpatient clinics and the surgeries of public hospitals and in the afternoon hours will begin from September 5".
The afternoon operation of the hospitals, explained the spokesperson of the SHSO, "concerns three main pillars:
The afternoon operation of the outpatient clinics. During the week all medical specialties will operate an outpatient clinic, on the basis of a program for each day. These clinics will not operate on the basis of a waiting list, but, citizens will be able to arrange their appointment with the doctor of any specialty they wish, after first visiting the website of the Organization to be informed about the days that the doctors of each specialty will offer services.
Performing operations (endoscopies) such as gastroscopies, bronchoscopies, colonoscopies, etc. These interventions will begin to be carried out in the afternoons on the basis of the waiting lists that currently exist. Citizens on this list will be informed in the near future about when they will undergo the intervention they need.
Performing surgeries. In this case, too, the surgeries will be performed on the basis of the waiting lists that currently exist, while inpatients who face urgent problems will also be served. Patients on the waiting lists will also be informed of the day on which they will be served."
As Mr. Charilaou said, "these days the final planning is being done, the outpatient operation program is being prepared and as soon as we are ready we will proceed with the relevant announcements". It is reminded that the afternoon operation of public hospitals begins, following an agreement reached between the SHSO and the guilds of workers in public hospitals. To arrange an appointment at the outpatient clinics, citizens will also be able to refer to the SHSO's website and schedule their visit to a doctor electronically. An appointment will also be arranged through telephone communication at telephone numbers that will be announced soon.
The staff of the public hospitals will work during the non-working hours for the Public Service, voluntarily and will be remunerated on the basis of an agreement reached between the SHSO and the guilds.
As Mr. Charilaou said, "all the details on how the afternoon clinics and surgeries operate will be announced by the Organization next week and when the programs will have been finalized". For the Organization, he concluded, "it is very important that the infrastructure and modern equipment that public hospitals have during the afternoon hours will be utilized" and pointed out that "in this way patients will be better served".
