Call for nurses’ suspension over locked-up patient

The health ministry said it will review a report from the state health services organisation (Okypy) regarding a complaint about a nurse who allegedly locked a patient for hours in a store room at Nicosia general hospital.

Okypy has recommended the removal of three nursing staff members who were on duty during the incident and their suspension from duties pending the completion of a police investigation.

The complaint was brought to the attention of Okypy last week when the wife of the patient, who underwent surgery that day, reported that a nurse had confined her husband for an extended period in a store room.

In statements to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Okypy spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou said that the documentation of events has been completed, and the report has been sent both to the health ministry, as it involves two public servants, and to the disciplinary committee of the organisation, as it concerns an Okypy employee.

“The organisation recommends the removal of the three nursing staff members who were on duty during the specific shift and their suspension from duties until the completion of the police investigation” Charilaou confirmed.

“The police investigation will determine if any criminal offences have been committed,” he added, mentioning that an inquiry will also be conducted for potential disciplinary misconduct.