Large number of Corfu patients have to be taken to mainland for treatment
Corfu Hospital
06 Oct 2022
/ 12:30
CORFU. There were over 300 transfers from Corfu Hospital to other hospitals in 2021.
We are in the year 2022 and yet hundreds of Corfu patients and their families have to suffer incredible ordeals by being taken to the mainland for treatment due to the lack of proper medical equipment and specialised doctors here.
Cancer patients who require radiotherapy, heart patients who require coronagraphy or pacemakers, newly-born babies that have breathing difficulties and even pregnant women need to be transferred elsewhere with all that entails in terms of cost and tribulation.
Three EKAB ambulances
According to the President of the Corfu Ambulance Service (EKAB) Employees Union Christos Kypriotis, over 300 patients were taken to hospitals elsewhere last year by all available means - ambulance, coastguard, airlifts.
Around 200 of them were taken by ambulance - and it needs to be borne in mind that there are only three ambulances in Corfu for each shift to cover all the island's needs and problems are created if any of them have to go elsewhere.
Mr. Kypriotis also says that there is an urgent need for an ambulance base in North Corfu, which was highlighted by the recent tragic incidents in the area.
Medical sources say that around 70-80% of these are for cardiac cases or paediatric cases including newly-born babies. The other 20-30% are for operations and other needs.
No cath lab
The hospital cardiology clinic, which is staffed at the moment by three doctors, who make superhuman efforts to cover all the needs, there is no cath lab (catheterization laboratory) and not enough medical personnel (heart surgeon, thoracic surgeon, cardiologist) in order to carry out coronagraphies, stent, vasodilators, insertion of permanent pacemakers and other necessary diagnoses and treatments.
Consequently, there is a problem when there is a heart attack and patients have to be transferred by ambulance or the coastguard and, more rarely, by airlift (which provides better and quicker care) to other hospitals for coronagraphy or vasodilator, losing precious time.
Some regional hospitals, such as Chios and Rhodes, are gradually beginning to acquire cath labs and doctors say that the same could happen here via the procedure of acquiring the equipment with ESPA funding along with the appointment of a suitable doctor.
Cancer patients
A lot of cancer patients also have to travel elsewhere for radiotherapy as there isn't a Radiation Department at Corfu Hospital. Radiation Departments are established in areas with a population of at least 200,000, and, according to the 2021 census, Corfu has a population of just 99,847.
At Corfu Hospital Day Hospitalisation Department, which is staffed by an oncologist and three nurses (one of whom is the supervisor), only chemotherapy is carried out. The nearest facility offering radiotherapy is in Ioannina.
However, in the winter, when ferry boats cannot cross to Igoumenitsa due to weather conditions, patients are often unable to travel for their therapy immediately, which obviously has a detrimental effect on their health.
On top of the ordeal they have to suffer there is also the matter of costs, including the high cost of travel. Although there isn't an official registerof cancer patients, it is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 in Corfu, with around 30-40% requiring radiotherapy.
The treatment of patients at Corfu Hospital, even difficult cases requiring expensive medicines, is completely supported by the hospital administration, according to oncologist Anna Mouzakiti.
Doctors don't want to come
Even if the medical equipment existed, there is no interest from doctors in coming here, despite the incentives. The salaries of hospital doctors (which have remained the same for years) plus increased costs for accommodation and supporting a family act as a deterrent for the majority.
Cancer patients who require radiotherapy, heart patients who require coronagraphy or pacemakers, newly-born babies that have breathing difficulties and even pregnant women need to be transferred elsewhere with all that entails in terms of cost and tribulation.
Three EKAB ambulances
According to the President of the Corfu Ambulance Service (EKAB) Employees Union Christos Kypriotis, over 300 patients were taken to hospitals elsewhere last year by all available means - ambulance, coastguard, airlifts.
Around 200 of them were taken by ambulance - and it needs to be borne in mind that there are only three ambulances in Corfu for each shift to cover all the island's needs and problems are created if any of them have to go elsewhere.
Mr. Kypriotis also says that there is an urgent need for an ambulance base in North Corfu, which was highlighted by the recent tragic incidents in the area.
Medical sources say that around 70-80% of these are for cardiac cases or paediatric cases including newly-born babies. The other 20-30% are for operations and other needs.
No cath lab
The hospital cardiology clinic, which is staffed at the moment by three doctors, who make superhuman efforts to cover all the needs, there is no cath lab (catheterization laboratory) and not enough medical personnel (heart surgeon, thoracic surgeon, cardiologist) in order to carry out coronagraphies, stent, vasodilators, insertion of permanent pacemakers and other necessary diagnoses and treatments.
Consequently, there is a problem when there is a heart attack and patients have to be transferred by ambulance or the coastguard and, more rarely, by airlift (which provides better and quicker care) to other hospitals for coronagraphy or vasodilator, losing precious time.
Some regional hospitals, such as Chios and Rhodes, are gradually beginning to acquire cath labs and doctors say that the same could happen here via the procedure of acquiring the equipment with ESPA funding along with the appointment of a suitable doctor.
Cancer patients
A lot of cancer patients also have to travel elsewhere for radiotherapy as there isn't a Radiation Department at Corfu Hospital. Radiation Departments are established in areas with a population of at least 200,000, and, according to the 2021 census, Corfu has a population of just 99,847.
At Corfu Hospital Day Hospitalisation Department, which is staffed by an oncologist and three nurses (one of whom is the supervisor), only chemotherapy is carried out. The nearest facility offering radiotherapy is in Ioannina.
However, in the winter, when ferry boats cannot cross to Igoumenitsa due to weather conditions, patients are often unable to travel for their therapy immediately, which obviously has a detrimental effect on their health.
On top of the ordeal they have to suffer there is also the matter of costs, including the high cost of travel. Although there isn't an official registerof cancer patients, it is estimated that there are approximately 1,000 in Corfu, with around 30-40% requiring radiotherapy.
The treatment of patients at Corfu Hospital, even difficult cases requiring expensive medicines, is completely supported by the hospital administration, according to oncologist Anna Mouzakiti.
Doctors don't want to come
Even if the medical equipment existed, there is no interest from doctors in coming here, despite the incentives. The salaries of hospital doctors (which have remained the same for years) plus increased costs for accommodation and supporting a family act as a deterrent for the majority.
