Audit Service: Midnight Raids on Emergency Rooms Reveal Weaknesses

The Audit Service has published a special report (EE-EY 06/2026) regarding a surprise inspection of the Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) of the General Hospitals of Nicosia and Limassol during the midnight hours of October 1, 2025. The inspection revealed positive aspects, such as the presence and prompt response of on-call specialist doctors of category A. However, weaknesses were also identified in the operation of the A&E departments, including recurring malfunctions and underutilization of CT scanners, delays in preparing medical reports, practices deviating from approved patient admission procedures, and prolonged patient waiting times. These issues indicate potential deficiencies in the organization and efficiency of the services. The report also highlights the absence of a comprehensive legal framework and adequate quality assurance mechanisms for telemedicine, raising concerns about the reliability and safety of these services. The Audit Service emphasizes the need to improve the quality of healthcare services around the clock. The report calls for immediate addressing of the identified weaknesses, aiming to ensure the effective and safe provision of healthcare services to all citizens.