More than 11,000 cases were treated during the months of June, July, and August at the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of the Famagusta General Hospital, a figure that corresponds to approximately 120 cases per day.
The increased number of patients during the summer months is also linked to the significant population increase in the Famagusta district due to the tourist season. The Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, without appointments and without turning away patients, serving every citizen in need of urgent medical care.
During peak hours, the increased number of patients may result in wait times. The order in which patients are seen, however, is determined by the triage process—that is, by the severity and urgency of each case—rather than by the time of arrival.
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This ensures that cases that directly threaten life or health—such as a heart attack or a stroke—are treated as a priority.
This also means that patients with less urgent conditions may have to wait longer. Waiting is a real hardship for the patient and their companions, and this fact is recognized.
During this year’s summer season, additional measures were implemented to better and more quickly manage the increased patient volume.
Specifically, a Rapid Patient Triage Clinic was in operation, staffed by an additional doctor and nurse during peak hours, for cases that can be evaluated and treated quickly; a Short-Stay Ward was also opened, for patients requiring a few hours of monitoring and reevaluation before a decision on discharge, and staffing levels at the Emergency Department were reinforced during all shifts during periods of increased demand.
These measures are part of an ongoing effort to improve patient flow without compromising the prioritization of truly urgent cases.
The needs of the Emergency Department at Famagusta General Hospital for the upcoming summer season are already being assessed, based on actual data from this year’s operations and the experience gained.
Behind every shift are doctors, nurses, and other staff who work under conditions of particularly high pressure, often working 12-hour shifts, dealing daily with an unpredictable number of cases of varying severity.
OKYPY recognizes both the needs of patients and the efforts of the staff and continues to evaluate ways to strengthen health services, particularly in areas where demand increases significantly during the summer months.
The Famagusta General Hospital, like every OKYPY hospital, forms part of the country’s healthcare safety net and remains available day and night, for anyone who needs care.
