Understaffing puts ICUs at risk, Greek nurses say
[SOOC]
The Health Ministry is scrambling to plug shortages that have left the intensive-care units of major state hospitals dangerously understaffed, Kathimerini understands.
The contracts of 170 nursing staff expired recently, leaving hospitals like Sotiria and Evangelismos in a difficult situation. At Evangelismos, the management has been rotating staff from other departments in a bid to keep its three ICUs operational.
Health Ministry officials have stressed that such stopgap solutions will keep the ICUs open until workers’ contracts are renewed. It remains unclear when that will happen, however.
Meanwhile, the union representing Greek nurses claims that several ICUs have already stopped operating due to the shortages.
