Patients at Larnaca General Hospital are facing lengthy delays in admission, with shortages of beds, doctors and nurses affecting the operation of several departments and clinics, according to concerns raised following a visit by representatives of AKEL's Larnaca district committee.
The delegation met on Monday with the hospital's Executive General Director, Chrystalla Charalambous, to discuss issues affecting the facility's operations and the quality of healthcare services provided to patients.
Speaking to Politis, AKEL Larnaca MP Andreas Pasiourtidis, who attended the meeting, said the most serious problem concerns the lack of available beds across various wards and clinics, a situation he linked directly to shortages of medical and nursing staff.
According to Mr Pasiourtidis, patients arriving at the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) with serious conditions requiring immediate admission are often forced to wait because no beds are available in the ward or clinic where they need to be treated.
He cited a specific case in which a patient remained on an emergency department bed for more than 24 hours while waiting for space to become available in the appropriate hospital unit.
Mr Pasiourtidis added that complaints regarding long waiting times at the emergency department are not linked to the building infrastructure, which has already been expanded, but rather to shortages of beds and healthcare personnel.
Works currently under way in the former emergency department area are expected to be completed during 2027, allowing it to be integrated with the newer facilities.
Three departments said to be understaffed
The AKEL MP also alleged that three specific units at Larnaca General Hospital continue to operate below capacity because of staffing shortages.
These are:
- The Radiology Department.
- The Pulmonology Clinic.
- The Cardiology Clinic.
"For years these clinics have been waiting for the proper staffing required to enable them to operate and provide healthcare services to their fullest potential," he said.
Problems were also reported in the Nephrology Department, at a time when demand for dialysis services continues to increase.
Broader issues discussed
During the meeting with hospital management, participants also discussed:
- Staffing needs across departments and clinics.
- More efficient use of the hospital's infrastructure.
- The need for improvements to the hospital's older wing.
- Parking shortages at the facility.
According to those involved in the discussions, the existing parking area was designed to meet the needs of the 1980s, when the original wing of the hospital was constructed, and no longer adequately serves current demand.
AKEL calls for action
In a statement, AKEL's district executive committee said access to quality healthcare must remain non-negotiable.
The party added that healthcare professionals should be able to work under the best and safest possible conditions, while patients, visitors and medical, nursing and paramedical staff should benefit from improved access and services.
The district committee said it would continue to monitor developments closely and intervene publicly where necessary.
The staffing challenges facing Larnaca General Hospital may also be raised before the relevant parliamentary committee.
