The Cyprus Medical Association on Sunday called for an “urgent review” of safety measures at accident and emergency departments in Cyprus’ hospitals after a patient attacked staff at the Nicosia general hospital on Saturday.
“After that abomination, we condemn this new violent attack on the doctor and on the nurses … and we stand by the side of health professionals,” the association said.
It added that Saturday’s attack is “not the first time health professionals have become the victims of violence.”
“Violence, whether physical or verbal, against medical and nursing staff must not and will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” it said.
It added, “fellow doctors and nurses are dedicated to protecting the health and lives of the public and must not be in open danger when carrying out their duties, let alone in a place like an accident and emergency department, where the conditions are already demanding, and staff are dealing with serious and urgent incidents.”
As such, it called on the state health services organisation (Okypy) and the health ministry to urgently review safety measures as “it has become clear that the existing measures are insufficient”.
It called for the “immediate adoption of effective security measures” and said it will continue to monitor developments.
“We are ready to cooperate with the relevant authorities, ensuring that the protection of healthcare professionals is a top priority,” it said.
Saturday’s attack saw a patient attempt to stab another person before punching a doctor and two nurses, prompting health workers’ trade unions Pasyki, Pasyno, and Pasydy to call a two-hour strike for Monday morning.
Okypy condemned the incident and called on security workers in place at hospitals to “step in on time” and to not show any tolerance to such actions.
