Attikon Hospital psychiatric clinic faces critical nursing shortages

The Employees' Association of Attikon University General Hospital has issued an urgent alert regarding critical nursing shortages in its Psychiatric Clinic. The association describes the situation as reaching a breaking point, impacting both staff working conditions and patient safety.

Currently, the clinic is staffed by only nine nurses to care for approximately 24 patients. Notably, between 10 and 12 of these patients are under involuntary hospitalization, a status that requires heightened supervision, crisis management, and continuous nursing care. The association reported that some afternoon shifts are covered by only a single nurse and one ward assistant.

The staff is calling on the Ministry of Health and the 2nd Health Region to implement immediate solutions. They also raised concerns regarding the utilization of existing personnel, noting that five nurses assigned to the psychiatric unit are currently working in other hospital departments instead of reinforcing the clinic.