Six per cent of staff in state hospitals are on long-term leave due to sickness, pregnancy and parental leave, the nursing staff branch of trade union Pasydy said on Thursday. The union has called for increased personnel to address the shortages and warned of potential strikes if their demands are not met.

In a letter to the health ministry, Pasydy’s nursing staff branch reiterated the need for additional staff in state hospitals, an issue that has been under discussion for years between the union and the state health services organisation (Okypy).

“At a meeting on May 30, 2023, in the presence of the chairman of the board of directors, it was agreed and you committed to the gradual implementation of the staffing agreement with a time horizon of one year,” the union said in a letter addressed to Okypy executive director Kypros Stavridis.

Pasydy has urged the immediate implementation of necessary measures, warning that failure to act by March 31 would result in a work stoppage.

At Larnaca general hospital, there is a shortage of 20 nurses, with 13 of the 369 nurses (3.5 per cent) on long-term leave. In Limassol, the general hospital has 600 nurses instead of the required 620, with 25 (4 per cent) on long-term leave.

Famagusta general hospital is operating with 190 nurses instead of 209, with nine (4.3 per cent) on long-term leave.

In Paphos, the hospital is short by six nurses, with 260 instead of 266 on staff, while 13 (4.9 per cent) are on long-term leave.

Pasydy reported that, in total, 153 nurses are currently on long-term leave. The overall shortfall in state hospitals stands at 157 nurses, with 2,789 currently working instead of the required 2,946.