The interruption of scheduled routine interventions from February 12 decided today, February 8, the Surgical Department (medical surgeons of all specialties and anesthesiologists) of the “Aglaia Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital. At the same time, it was also decided the operation of operating theaters only for emergenciesdue to the lack of staff and, specifically, anesthetists and Anesthesiology and operating room nurses.

The Aglaia Kyriakou Children’s Hospital alternates with the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital 15 days a month. Despite the large volume of cases served in its surgeries, the problem of understaffing has existed for a long time. Thus, the cases of the regular operating room list stagnate, and the surgical clinics are not able to offer their services, nor their educational work, since only 2 of the 10 operating theaters of the hospital are active.

The Anesthesiology Department of the Hospital Children’s English Kyriakou is facing a serious understaffing problem for several months, and more after the retirement of two doctors and the non-renewal of the contract of a private doctor (Government Gazette A΄ 215/22.12.2023). The remaining physician anesthesiologists repeatedly work overtime, and these latest developments put a much greater burden on them, resulting in them not being able to safely cover the hospital’s on-call schedule, but also the operating theaters that have been active until now, which were already extremely reduced compared to the hospital’s specifications . As of June 2023, both the hospital Administration and the 1st Health Region have been informed, but the necessary measures have not been taken, nor have the available organizational positions been announced.

As more anesthesiologists as well as operating room and anesthesia nurses are needed to operate more operating rooms, the Department of Surgery clinics/departments are suspending scheduled operations on children, recognizing the need for staffing as a safety issue.