HEALTH minister Giorgos Pamborides on Wednesday expressed his hope that nurses belonging to the PASYNO union and the state could resolve their dispute that has resulted in an ongoing strike, as the situation cannot go on for long.
Speaking during a visit to Limassol General Hospital where he met with the management and nurse representatives, he said both sides need to demonstrate a willingness to cooperate so the problem could be resolved soon.
Outside, nurses were holding placards saying, “asking for the obvious is not cocky” and “no to victimising nurses”.
So far, everything has been running smoothly with skeleton staff handling the workload in emergency and other wards, a health ministry statement said.
On Tuesday, when the strike got underway, there had been 541 visits to emergency departments, 101 people were checked in, while 12 surgeries, three child births and four cases were referred to the private sector, it added.
“Until late lunchtime on Wednesday, public hospitals in all towns were operating smoothly without any particular problems.”
Critical services for the public were the intensive care units, chemotherapy, endoscopies, dialysis and childbirth, which “operated smoothly and all urged cases were dealt with immediately.”
Reiterating that the right to strike was respected, Pamborides said it was just as important that people who went to hospitals for treatment were not in any danger.
Asked whether a solution could be found between the two parties so the strike can come to an end, the minister said “we will see. This is what everyone is hoping for as this situation cannot go on.”
Commenting on complaints by the ministry’s general director that two nurses refused to comply with their duty as skeleton staff, Pamborides said “all sides need to demonstrate a willingness to cooperate so all the problems which arise can be resolved.”
PASYNO cried foul saying the claims were untrue and unfounded, calling on the director to investigate threats against union member nurses.
The union said they were collecting evidence of efforts exerted against nurses to try to stop them from striking.
Nurses want higher entry-level wages and recognition of their qualifications as a university degree, something the government said would cost €40m a year and was not financially viable.
The ministry apologised to the public and sought to reassure patients they were monitoring the situation and taking all necessary action so that problems could be minimised.
