Extending the operating hours of urban-type Health Centers to handle cases and alleviate the emergency shifts of Attica’s hospitals, hiring nurses and stretcher-bearers, renovating Emergency Departments (EDs), guiding citizens within EDs through Red Cross personnel, and introducing a “bracelet” system to track wait times at each stage of the emergency process are some of the measures outlined by the Ministry of Health to reduce waiting times in public hospital emergency departments.

The plan, which is gradually being implemented and has already started with changes to hospital emergency teams, was presented by the political leadership of the Ministry of Health. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis noted that the current wait time in the emergency shifts of major hospitals in Attica is about 8–9 hours. “The idea that someone enters an emergency department and leaves immediately does not exist,” Mr. Georgiadis remarked, adding that the average wait time in Northern European countries is about 4.5–5 hours. “There are two key issues in an emergency department: The speed at which a doctor examines the patient and directs them for tests, and the time taken to complete those tests,” the Minister explained.

To achieve the greatest possible improvement in waiting times, the Ministry of Health has unveiled a plan focused on seven main pillars, as detailed in a presentation by Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistokleous. The first pillar involves organizational changes, which began on November 1 with the restructuring of public hospital emergency teams. Notably, hospitals in Attica collectively handle about 2,000–2,200 patients daily. These changes have so far reduced patient visits by up to 20% at specific hospitals in Athens. In other hospitals, no decrease in patient visits has been observed, prompting targeted adjustments based on the needs and case volume of each hospital.

A crucial pillar of the plan is utilizing Health Centers for cases requiring Primary Health Care. Deputy Health Minister Irini Agapidaki provided an example of the role large Health Centers in the metropolitan area can play. Specifically, the Keratsini Health Center handles about 350 cases from one emergency shift at Nikaia Hospital to the next, even performing thrombolysis procedures.

Thus, the Health Centers under the 1st Health District (HD) contributing to emergency shifts include the Alexandra Health Center, which operates 24/7; the Kallithea and Marousi centers, which operate from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM; and the Rafina Health Center, which also operates 24/7. In the 2nd HD, the centers in Vari (24/7), Elefsina (24/7), and Megara (24/7), along with the Peristeri and Keratsini centers (7:00 AM to 9:00 PM), are being “activated.” The Ministry’s leadership aims to familiarize the public with Health Centers while also planning to hire 50 auxiliary staff to enhance their operation. Gradually, the operating hours of additional Health Centers will be extended.

At the same time, targeted hiring will take place in Emergency Departments, including:

• 229 nurses,
• 233 other staff,
• 19 ED doctors in the 1st HD,
• 18 ED doctors in the 2nd HD,
• 100 stretcher-bearers.

Additionally, renovations are underway in Emergency Departments. For example, at “Attikon” Hospital, the ED is expanding from 1,000 square meters to 5,000 square meters. The Ministry’s plan also includes upgrading medical equipment in EDs, with a total investment of €3.2 million.

The Ministry of Health leadership also announced a program set to begin that involves guiding citizens within Emergency Departments. Twenty-five Red Cross staff members will be deployed in major hospitals in Attica to assist citizens with paperwork, directing them to clinics, and informing them where they should wait, among other services.