High Dependency Unit upgrades health services

By Evie Andreou

HEALTH Minister Philippos Patsalis officially inaugurated Nicosia General Hospital’s new high dependency unit (HDU) on Monday saying it marked a new era in public health.

The HDU will provide for the smooth transition of patients from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a regular ward. ICU patients whose condition is no longer critical but still need more care will be placed in the HDU until they are well enough to be transferred to a regular ward or rehabilitation centre. Along with the increased care unit, post-critical care has also been introduced, where patients will be monitored for 96 hours after their exit from the ICU.

Specially trained staff and a new ICU specialist doctor will man the new unit which at the moment has six beds, with the prospect of the addition of two more beds soon.

“Our goal is the upgrade of health services and the emergence of Cyprus as an exemplar of medical and nursing care,” Patsalis said.
Nicosia General Hospital’s general manager Petros Matsas said that the HDU, which is the first in Cyprus, aims to help decongest the hospital’s nursing system and especially the ICU.

Health ministry’s acting general manager Christina Yiannaki called the HDU a huge accomplishment, saying that “the vision of many years had become a reality”.

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