New work rules at hospitals

Directors must spare time for patients, no breaks at counters

 

The Ministry of Health has said that all directors of the state hospitals, as well as regional and rural centres, must spare two hours a week for appointments with patients, while there should be no breaks at public service counters and no such station will remained unmanned for more than 30 minutes.

A new set of regulations was issued to improve the smooth operation of public health services that also coincided with the operation of the new General Hospital in Nicosia.

Other regulations say that all hospitals must have suggestion and complaint boxes, all hospital and health service departments must clearly display their working hours, and that only a five-minute break is allowed at certain stations.

All offices, labs and public service cubicles will remain open until the end of normal working hours, and if any person manning a station will be absent for more than 30 minutes this must be posted in an announcement, while the maximum expected waiting time must also be clearly stated. A ‘patient’s complaint officer’ must be designated at all hospitals.

As of December 1, all hospital and Ministry of Health staff must wear name-badges with their photo identification, while all public service counters must bear the name of person manning that station.