The shortage of nurses is creating problems not only for the private sector but also for public hospitals.
Just last week, Health Minister Neofytos Charalambides acknowledged before the newly formed House Health Committee that recently approved legislation, including laws relating to rehabilitation services and community nursing, cannot be implemented as intended because of insufficient nursing staff.
Yesterday, the issue returned to parliament, this time during discussions on ongoing construction works at Makarios Hospital and concerns relating to the hospital's Paediatric Oncology Clinic.
PASYDY Nurses' Branch president Prodromos Argyrides stated that there is a serious shortage of nurses in the specific department. However, he clarified that the problem is not confined either to the Paediatric Oncology Clinic or to Makarios Hospital.
According to Mr Argyrides, nurse shortages and severe understaffing are currently being recorded across all public hospitals.
He said 93 nurses are expected to be recruited, but it remains uncertain whether even that number can be filled, since the list of eligible candidates contains only a limited number of nurses.
Mr Argyrides said efforts are being made to move ahead with the appointments and appealed to the State Health Services Organisation (OKYpY) to ensure there are no delays.
From the side of the State Health Services Organisation, chief financial officer Robertos Karachannas confirmed that the recruitment of 93 nurses is planned, included in the 2026 budget and already in progress.
At the same time, he noted that staffing requirements are greater, as the organisation had requested additional positions which were ultimately not included in the budget.
Additional pressure, it was noted during the discussion, is being created by increased levels of sick leave among staff, making day-to-day scheduling and the coverage of departmental needs even more difficult.
Makarios Hospital undergoing major facelift
The nursing shortage was raised in the context of discussions regarding the upgrading of Makarios Hospital, with OKYpY stressing that the works could not be postponed.
As Mr Karachannas stated, the hospital building is 45 years old and, had the renovation works not gone ahead, "it would have fallen on top of us."
He even compared the process to trying "to change an aircraft engine while the plane is in flight."
As regards project timelines, the Paediatric Surgery Department will be delivered on July 12, with a delay of one and a half months. The remaining works are not expected to cause disruption.
Maternity Ward 1 will be completed in September 2026, Maternity Ward 2 at the end of January 2027, the Paediatric Department in February 2027 and the Gynaecology Department in March 2027.
Emergency department due by April 2027
Work on the Accident and Emergency Department is ongoing and the new facility will be connected to the main hospital building by three bridges.
The most significant disruption is expected in April 2027, when the connection works are scheduled to take place.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will be completed in two phases, in June and September 2027.
With regard to the renovation works at the Gynaecology Department, located opposite the Paediatric Oncology Clinic, new measures have been decided upon, including enhanced soundproofing, in an effort to minimise disruption for children receiving treatment.
