Iraklio hospital management ousted over surgery postponements
Greek Health Minister Michalis Chryssochoidis sacked the manager and deputy manager of the Venizelio General Hospital of Iraklio, Crete, on Tuesday, after discovering that surgeries were being postponed due to a lack of medical personnel.
“I take full responsibility as the competent minister, and I apologize to the citizens of Iraklio for the trouble they have suffered,” Chryssochoidis had said during a press conference on Monday, following an inspection of the hospital. “This situation is not acceptable to the government and the prime minister.”
The minister announced that the anesthesiology department will be immediately reinforced with doctors from the private sector for the next three months so that at least four operating tables are available on a daily basis. He also pledged to hire doctors and nursing staff with fast track procedures to fill the gaps and ensure the smooth operation of the hospital.
This is the second time that the minister sacks hospital managers. Earlier this month, he sacked the heads of the Konstantopoulio-Aghia Olga General Hospital in northern Athens after an inspection of its psychiatric unit revealed patients lived in insanitary conditions and crumbling infrastructure.
