Nurses at the Athalassa psychiatric hospital on Thursday condemned the health ministry for not including them in the first round of vaccinations.

In a written statement the staff of the only psychiatric hospital of the island called on the state and the relevant bodies to intervene to ensure the staff’s immediate vaccination.

“We condemn the fact that it appears the nurses at Athalassa hospital, as well as the patients are treated as second-class citizens,” the statement said.

The staff also asked for an “investigation into the reasons why, once again, the Athalassa hospital, the patients with mental disorders and nurses were marginalised,” they added.