CORFU. The Unified Association of Corfu General Hospital Employees (ESYGK) has categorically refuted claims made by a private doctor regarding a “deserted building” in the Emergency Department (ED) during a fatal cardiac arrest incident last Saturday evening. The Association, echoing the statements of EGESYK, reiterated that the Hospital was never notified of the impending transfer of the patient.
Association Highlights 24/7 ED Staffing
In an official statement, the Association emphasized that the Emergency Department is staffed daily, 24 hours a day, by both a specialized and a resident doctor on active duty. It further highlighted that such accusations are aimed at creating false impressions and serve ulterior motives.
The Association’s detailed statement reads as follows:
Regarding the events concerning the transfer of a gravely ill patient last Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 03:00, by a private ambulance accompanied by a private doctor to the hospital, we state the following:
Refuting Claims of Absent Staff
We categorically deny all claims made about the absence of medical and/or nursing staff from the duty area upon the patient’s arrival at the ED. The on-duty staff was present, as is the case every day of the department’s active duty.
The Emergency Department was never notified of the impending transfer of the patient, which would have allowed for immediate preparedness, as is ALWAYS the case in similar situations. Nevertheless, within minutes, all involved specialties were attending to the patient, taking all necessary actions. The patient was transferred pulseless and without spontaneous breathing. The prescribed procedure and protocols were followed by the relevant specialties, unfortunately without a positive outcome.
24/7 Presence of Doctors Confirmed
We make it clear, primarily to the local community, that the Emergency Department is staffed DAILY by a specialized and a resident doctor on ACTIVE DUTY, meaning they are present on a 24-hour basis. Any report or “testimony” to the contrary is untrue and completely false!
References to a “deserted building” and an entrance “that had to be kicked open” are considered ludicrous and unworthy of even a rebuttal.
Accusations of Slander and Ulterior Motives
This is not the first time attempts have been made to slander the Hospital and its employees by certain private healthcare circles. These colleagues should be more careful in the work they perform (for their own potential omissions) and not shift blame to other healthcare facilities, in this case, the public Hospital.
Furthermore, we believe that before adopting an opinion, the media should first give a platform not only to the ARGUMENT but also to the COUNTER-ARGUMENT; otherwise, they contribute to the creation of false impressions.
We believe that such “accusations” are made for other reasons and serve ulterior motives. Especially when they come from individuals who have been, more or less, dubbed “saviors” of the island’s healthcare by local circles of the ruling party.
Demand for Public Apology and Legal Action Threat
We demand an immediate PUBLIC APOLOGY and REFUTATION of all these statements, regardless of their origin. Otherwise, we will take legal action to protect our members and the Hospital’s employees.
Anyone wishing to engage in personal advertising should pursue it in another direction. We will not tolerate any slander of the Hospital’s employees, who are selflessly striving to keep afloat a collapsing Public Health System that the authorities are consciously leading towards privatization.
Source: https://www.enimerosi.com/news/75425/Apaitoun-dimosia-suggnomi-gia-tis-anafores-kata-tou-TEP
