The situation in Hippocrates is dramatic due to shortages of anesthesiologists

The shortages of anesthesiologists in Hippocrates make problematic not only the operation of the Surgical sector but also the Pathology and Pediatrics, they pointed out, in today’s press conference, three professors of Medicine AUTh / directors of Clinics, describing the Hospital as the “big patient” of the public health sector. At the same time, they stressed that the shortage of anesthesiologists is a timeless problem, the solution of which requires central planning by the Ministry of Health.

They also noted that, today, 1500 patients are waiting in the list of surgeries and as a temporary solution they proposed the continuing cooperation with private clinics, which started during the pandemic and ends on 30/6/2022.

The director of the Medical Service of Hippocrates, professor of Surgery at AUTh and director of the 5th Surgery Clinic Apostolos Kamparoudis stated that throughout the pandemic there was a second hospital for patients with Covid, while at the same time a new ICU of 38 beds was created with a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, a Pulmonary Clinic was established and all surgeries were installed on the renovated 5th floor. Γ.

However, as Mr. Kamparoudis stated, due to the lack of anesthesiologists, the surgical sector faced the biggest problem as it has 12 surgical beds, some of which are unique and completely specialized, and while there are 27 organic positions for anesthesiologists, today in Hippocrates there are only nine anesthesiologists. He also noted that for the safe operation of the Hospital there should be 40 specialist anesthesiologists.

«The lack of anesthesiologists is timeless and its impact on the operation of the hospital is enormous. The Ministry of Health knows the shortcomings, which have existed since 2017 and even earlier. These deficiencies successively affect the operation of the Hospital departments“, Said o Professor of Pathology, AUTh, director of the Department of Pathology, Alexandros Garyfallos. At the same time, he noted that due to this problem, the Pathology department can not schedule surgeries.

The professor of Pediatrics AUTh and director of the 1st Pediatrics of Hippocrates Dimitrios Zafiriou He pointed out that the lack of anesthesiologists also affects the operation of the Pediatrics, an area where children who are chronic patients undergo examinations and treatments with anesthesia. Specifically, he stated that due to lack of anesthesiologists children can not do magnetic without anesthesiawhile newborns and infants can not receive treatment because there is no anesthesiologist to place a special intravenous catheter.

Suggestions for solving the problem

Mr. Kamparoudis stated that a series of proposals have been repeatedly submitted to the Ministry of Health, without, as he said, being heard so far.

Among the proposals is the creation of a single anesthesia chart, by recording all the human anesthesia potential and distribution according to the needs, the conclusion of a stable employment relationship with the Anesthesiology Departments of the Private Clinics for permanent monthly support of Hippocracy, the re-evaluation of the responsibility and importance of the specialties and the specialty of the specialties of Anesthesiology, the establishment of new positions with special qualifications to meet specialized needs, the announcement of all the necessary organic positions of Anesthesiologists and Anesthesiology nursing staff. It is also proposed, in consultation with the Ministry of Education – for Hippocrates at least – the conversion of four NSS Anesthesiology positions into respective university ones.