Shortage of facilities causing overcrowding at Limassol hospital

LIMASSOL Hospital’s emergency ward is suffering sever overcrowding due to the fact that there are not enough outpatient clinics or health centres in the areas of Linopetra and Polemidia.

Health Minister Dina Akkelidou yesterday visited Limassol Hospital, and confirmed it was not operating to its best ability, and that with so many patients forced to visit the emergency ward, not everyone was receiving the appropriate treatment.

Referring to the lack of outpatient clinics in Linopetra and Polemidia, Akkelidou said she understood the magnitude of the problem, but added plans were under way to build a clinic in Linopetra.

Akkelidou said another priority was the creation of an oncology centre at Limassol Hospital. “This will help patients in and around the Limassol area, who currently have to travel to Nicosia to the oncology centre,” said Akkelidou.

Akkelidou also said equipment must be purchased and space made for a new radiation department to help cancer patients.

The Health Ministry is also preparing a new cardiology ward and will purchase an angiography machine and other advanced equipment. “There are delays as the new equipment is difficult to operate and we need qualified staff to do so,” said Akkelidou.
The Limassol Hospital has also been waiting for the creation of a neurological surgery department. Akkelidou said this would take serious consideration and careful planning, as there was scepticism as to whether two such centres were necessary in Cyprus.

“It is my overall conclusion that the operation of the Limassol Health Service needs updating for the benefit of patients,” said Akkelidou.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.