MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE - 11 HOUR ER WAITS AND AMBULANCE SHORTAGES IN CYPRUS - KNews 1/5
New wave of complaints raises concerns over pressure on healthcare system, with allegations ranging from delayed emergency care to possible medical negligence.
By Hector Georgiou
Long waits in emergency rooms, medication mix-ups, ambulance shortages, and allegations of medical negligence were among dozens of complaints filed by patients in March with the Patients’ Rights Observatory of the Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations.
According to the Observatory, 60 complaints were submitted during the month, a noticeable increase compared to February, when 51 complaints were recorded.
The complaints paint a troubling picture of pressure points across Cyprus’ healthcare system, with patients and relatives describing delays, lack of staffing, and serious concerns over care and emergency response.
One complaint involved the operation of a hospital emergency department, where a woman said a relative was forced to wait nearly 11 hours in Accident and Emergency before receiving proper care.
While she praised the medical and nursing staff for their professionalism and kindness, she argued that severe understaffing was leading to long delays and unnecessary suffering for patients.
Another complaint involved a pharmacy error, with a woman claiming she was given the wrong medication instead of the one prescribed by her doctor.
According to the complaint, the mistake was quickly spotted by her physician and corrected before harm was caused. However, she alleged the pharmacist refused to take responsibility and downplayed the seriousness of the incident and the possible health consequences had she taken the incorrect medication.
Allegations of medical negligence
One of the most serious complaints came from a woman who believes her sister died last year due to medical negligence.
The complainant, who reportedly works at the same hospital, raised concerns over the quality of care, citing delays in doctors responding to urgent situations and a lack of immediate medical presence.
She claimed her sister’s condition worsened, showing possible signs of thrombosis, without timely intervention. She also questioned the sedative treatment that had been administered, describing it as inappropriate.
According to the death certificate, the woman died from thrombosis and cardiac arrest.
Ambulance shortages under fire
Several complaints submitted in March also focused on problems involving ambulance services.
In one case, a bedridden patient with chronic health conditions reportedly missed an important medical appointment because no ambulance was available to transport her.
According to the complaint, the patient depends entirely on ambulance services to attend medical appointments and had informed the service a day in advance about the scheduled visit. Despite this, she was later told that no ambulance was available.
In another case, a visually impaired dialysis patient who had suffered a leg injury and was temporarily staying in a rehabilitation center was unable to secure ambulance transport to the hospital for scheduled dialysis treatment.
Relatives reportedly contacted ambulance services because they were unable to transport him themselves but were informed that limited ambulance availability in the district made transport impossible.
Another complaint described what was alleged to be a refusal to dispatch an ambulance in an emergency situation.
According to the report, a woman called for an ambulance after her son developed severe lower abdominal pain. She claimed the request for an ambulance was denied and that they were simply advised to give him painkillers.
The patient was eventually taken to the hospital without ambulance assistance, where doctors reportedly determined his condition was serious. He is now being treated in intensive care due to an infection.
