Greek Hospitals in Crisis: Doctors Struggle to Cope Amid Overcrowding

Public hospitals in Greece are grappling with an escalating crisis as severe overcrowding, staff shortages, and an influx of patients overwhelm the system.

The situation is particularly dire in major facilities like "Attikon" and the Athens State Hospital "G. Gennimatas," where dozens of patients remain on makeshift beds in corridors, sometimes for days after emergency on-call shifts end.

The strain on resources has worsened in recent months, exacerbated by a surge in viral infections. The lack of available beds, especially in pathology departments, has become a pressing issue, with conditions deteriorating to the point where they seem permanent.

Patients Waiting Days for Beds

A recent example highlights the severity of the situation. Following the last general on-call shift at the Athens State Hospital, three patients—two of them critically ill and over 90 years old—were still in the Emergency Department 72 hours later due to the unavailability of beds in the Pathology Clinic.

"Initially, we had 60 patients waiting outside the inpatient wards. The next day, there were 30, and even by the third day, three patients remained without beds," explained Dr. Georgia Philippa, a pathologist at the hospital. She noted that the 3rd Pathology Clinic often treats around 120 patients after each on-call shift, despite having just 25-30 available beds.

Staff Protest Over Dire Conditions

Doctors at "G. Gennimatas" hospital staged a protest on January 21, decrying the worsening conditions during on-call shifts and the chronic shortages of doctors, nurses, and support staff. They also raised concerns about the cancellation of “short on-call” shifts (8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), which were shut down on January 20 due to an overflow of unresolved cases from the previous general on-call.

"We Treat a Small Village Every Day"

The crisis is mirrored at Attikon Hospital, where the pressure on pathology clinics has reached breaking point. "We treat the equivalent of a small village during every on-call shift," say hospital doctors. The situation has worsened since the start of the year, with up to 120 patients admitted to pathology clinics in a single shift, fueled by the seasonal surge in viral illnesses.

Healthcare professionals are calling for immediate government intervention to address the shortages of medical staff, beds, and resources, warning that the current situation is unsustainable and jeopardizes patient care.

For now, the "war" in Greece's hospitals continues, with doctors and nurses working tirelessly under impossible conditions, striving to provide care to all who come through their doors.

(Source: To Vima)