Minister of Health rejects request for paediatric intensive care unit
The Ministry of Health responded negatively to the request for the establishment of a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in the Eastern Macedonia Thrace Region.
"In addition to high operating costs, it is not possible to establish a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in a region where the population criteria are not met." The Ministry of Health announced that it has a negative attitude towards the request for the establishment of a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in any hospital in the Eastern Macedonia Thrace Region.
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, in his response to the question submitted by SYRIZA MPs on the subject, argued that it was not possible to realise such a request, citing staffing and population criteria.
Minister Georgiadis stated that in Northern Greece, an 8-bed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is in service at Thessaloniki Hypokratio Hospital and presented some figures on the number of staff and occupancy rate.
Minister Georgiadis announced that a total of 14 doctors, 2 assistants and 2 specialists, are working in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Hippokratio Hospital of Thessaloniki, 2 of whom are on maternity leave.
At the same time, the Minister of Health stated that a total of 33 nurses, including 9 auxiliary nurses, were on duty and that 5 of the 33 nurses were on long-term sick leave.
Adonis Georgiadis also added that there are 2 auxiliary staff.
Occupancy rate
Stating that the average occupancy rate of the clinic has reached 60%, the Minister stated that this rate is 55% in 2021, 52% in 2022, and 57% in 2023 (according to the data announced from January to October).
In the statement of Adonis Georgiadis, the following statements were made "From the above data, it is understood that the existing Paediatric Intensive Care Unit meets the needs of Northern Greece in a wide scope. In addition, considering that paediatric surgery clinics such as Paediatric Neurosurgery, Paediatric Cardiac Surgery etc. will also operate in the Stavros Niarhos Foundation New University Paediatric Hospital in Northern Greece, the total number of intensive care beds will reach 33 in 3 departments, each with 11 beds."
At the end of his statement, Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis said, "In addition to high operating costs, it is not possible to establish a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in an area where population criteria are not met."
Statement from the citizen group that started a signature campaign on Facebook
A statement came from the citizens who started the signature campaign after Health Minister Georgiadis responded negatively to the request. The statement made on social media is as follows:
"We do not have the gift of prophecy. However, considering the current situation in the health sector, we see that we have correctly predicted what the minister's answer will be to the MPs' questions regarding the absence of a paediatric intensive care unit in the Eastern Macedonian Thrace Province.
It is precisely because we foresee such an explanation that we have chosen to submit a motion with specific demands to the State. It is obvious that the same answer will be given to the KKE and Greek Solution (Elliniki Lisi) MPs who submitted questions on the subject:
1. The population criterion is not met,
2. The beds in Thessaloniki are sufficient to meet the needs.
It is now clear to everyone how necessary our motion to the Region Assembly is: The President of the State should call on the heads of our hospitals to prepare a joint economic and technical study that would document the need for the creation of a paediatric intensive care unit, indicate the most suitable location and prepare a joint economic and technical study for the inclusion of such a project in the financial programmes.
We are with all the inhabitants of Eastern Macedonia Thrace. Keep going!"
