The trial of the Children’s Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at Nicosia General Hospital was successful, and the State Health Services Organization (SHSO), evaluating the data from the first 11 months of the department’s operation, has begun considering various scenarios to create a suitable space for serving children at the Accident and Emergency Department of Limassol General Hospital.
The recorded numbers prove the success of the initiative.
From February to December 2023, the Children’s A&E served almost 10,000 cases, specifically 9,617.
According to the analysis of Nicosia General Hospital’s data, 10%-12% of children requiring service from the Children’s A&E are subsequently referred to Makarios Hospital for further care.
Children visiting the Children’s A&E, as mentioned by the director of the Nicosia Children’s A&E, Savvas Savva, mainly present symptoms of respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal infections (gastroenteritis), while some arrive with injuries (due to accidents).
Additionally, there are cases involving children with various chronic diseases who may experience exacerbations of their condition at any time.
On weekdays, from Monday to Friday, the department handles an average of 30–35 cases, and on weekends and holidays, it manages 40–45 cases.
The increase in the number of cases during non-working hours and days is mainly attributed to the absence of pediatricians during those times.
The months with the highest visitation, as expected, were October, November, and December 2023, coinciding with the seasonal increase in infectious diseases.
In December, 1,231 cases were served, equivalent to 40 cases per 24 hours.
Monthly breakdown: In February 2023, the Children’s A&E received 683 cases, in March 649, and the number of cases consistently increased. In April, it reached 814 cases, May 836, and June 946.
A decrease was observed in July with 712 cases and August with 806 cases. From September, the numbers started rising again, reaching 930 cases in September, 1,020 in October, 990 in November, and 1,231 in December.
According to the department’s director, the Children’s A&E is staffed by 7 pediatricians, nurses, and other professionals, and it has five beds.
The Children’s A&E was inaugurated on February 1, 2023, at Nicosia General Hospital.
Its operation fulfilled a longstanding societal demand, and its success was welcomed by all, according to Savvas.
He emphasized that the Children’s A&E has alleviated the burden on the adult A&E, and children now receive specialized care from pediatricians tailored to their needs. The department operates exceptionally well, receiving numerous positive comments from the public.
On behalf of SHSO, Charalambos Charilaou stated that the most significant achievement of the Children’s A&E is the specialized care children receive, and the fact that they come to a separate, specially designed space that meets their needs without mingling with adults.
He added that there is some relief for the adult A&E as well, although there is no significant difference in the number of cases it handles per 24 hours, despite its inclusion in the General Healthcare System (GHS) and the private A&E in Nicosia.
Based on data and the experience of the first year of the Children’s A&E operation, SHSO is considering the possibility of creating a space at the Limassol General Hospital A&E to serve children in need of emergency services.
Currently, there is no perceived necessary to establish separate Children’s A&E in other hospitals beyond Nicosia, as provincial hospitals always have a pediatrician available to attend to children, and independent pediatric departments operate within the hospitals, a situation not present in Nicosia.
