“Leros Hospital” Dossier: What is the true state of affairs?

The problems are real and quantifiable, and countless patients on Leros and nearby islands have faced them at one time or another.

So what is actually true? What are the real, urgent problems that needed solving yesterday?

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Cardiology

We lived through a “golden two decades” thanks to the good fortune of having two outstanding scientists, and human beings, settled permanently on our island.

Vasia Apostolopoulou and Michalis Sakellariou repeatedly stepped up, saving dozens of lives.

They never spoke of consecutive shifts, endless on-call duties, or understaffing problems, as the primary goal was the patient, the people of Leros. For them, they sacrificed their personal lives on more than a few occasions. For these reasons, they will be honoured by our Municipal Council.

Now we must learn to live without these specific doctors. Konstantinos Tsiamakopoulos, who also helped our Hospital, has left, and Mr. Kalovidouris comes and assists us, after the Hospital Director, Mr. Kardasis, fought a great battle to secure accommodation, transport, and whatever else he could for a veritable ‘gem’ of a doctor for the NHS (ΕΣΥ).

The cardiology post must be filled immediately. The Regional Health Authority is trying, but so far there has been no response, as no doctors applied.

Other departments

Radiology needs reinforcement, as does Microbiology, to cut waiting times for tests.

Tests are carried out on a daily basis by one doctor with an invaluable contribution to our island all these years, and a team of people ready to offer their services 24 hours a day.

In the Renal Unit, the presence of Mr. Konstantinidis has lifted the clinic to a very good standard of care.

The Surgical department is ‘crying out’ for reinforcement. Mr. Ioannis Volakakis, director of the surgical clinic for 3 years, is currently doing his 20th consecutive on-call duty at the General Hospital of Leros (ΚΘΛ). (HE HAS BEEN ON CONTINUOUS CALL since 16/08/2025) and has done 15 on-call duties per month for the last 3 years!

God bless Mr. Krasonikolakis, a doctor whose skill has not only saved lives but showcased the hospital’s capabilities far and wide, notably by saving the life of a Turkish tycoon who will shortly make a substantial donation to the hospital.

General practitioner Dr. Chatzidaki has been at the hospital for a year, fighting hard for both the institution and its patients.

The Pathology department was strengthened with the presence of Mr. Markakis alongside Mr. Tsoukalas and the invaluable Ms. Antiarti, who has been serving the island’s community for years.

As for Nikitas Tachliambouris, anything one says seems insufficient! The man, our safety net, the scientist who raised our children, has unfortunately been left alone and the presence of a second paediatrician is more necessary than ever.

Orthopaedics has been bolstered and now has two doctors, a blessing for a clinic with a heavy caseload.

Mr. Fournaris, as the only pulmonologist, has held the responsibility for an entire island for many years.

The hospital’s rural doctors provide crucial back-up day-to-day in the Emergency Department; their presence is more valuable than ever.

A major asset for Leros Hospital is its nursing staff, a source of pride for us all. Highly trained and rightly regarded as a key pillar of immediate patient care, they keep the hospital running for the dozens of people who come through its doors.

The anaesthetist post, which needs urgent reinforcement, is key to the smooth functioning of the clinical services and to the hospital’s very viability.

Since the urology post was filled, the clinic has offered solutions and spared many residents from travelling. Any problems that have occasionally surfaced relate to behaviours, not to the clinic’s indisputable contribution or the doctor staffing it.

The ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) position will soon begin its services for the Leros island’s residents, and this counts among the positive news.

Questions arise from the operation of the Dental clinic. Surely Mr. Kardasis will inform the island’s residents about the operation of this specific clinic.

Unfilled posts

Sadly, the cardiology, anaesthetics and paediatrics positions were advertised, but no doctors applied. This is a long-standing problem for the country’s frontier-area hospitals. Even though incentives have been increased, they have not proved persuasive enough to staff posts that amount to a ticking time bomb under Leros Hospital, and not only here.

What needs fixing

Doctors’ working hours, the behaviour of a minority, waiting times for certain clinics, and the insecurity residents feel where there is only one specialist, these are issues the Administration and the Ministry must address at once.

No one should be beyond scrutiny, wherever they sit. We don’t need populism or empty swagger; it helps no one.

The hospital has problems, that much is obvious. But the last thing we need is introversion. There are ill-disposed voices around us who, instead of talking about chronic understaffing, try to paint lurid pictures of collapse and disintegration for their own self-serving ends.

The new administrator

A chapter on Stamatis Kardasis: he is the head of the Hospital, the new director who will listen to the positive and negative from our island. From the first moment, his quiet demeanour, kindness, competence, impeccable behaviour, and knowledge made many believe that in him we can secure more for our Hospital.

From what we know, Mr. Kardasis spends endless hours in his office trying to find solutions to the problems caused primarily by understaffing. With politeness and respect, he listens to everyone, is briefed by his departments, and does not interfere in their work. As many employees say, this man did not come to Leros for public relations, but to work and get things done.

To date, he has not closed his door to any employee or patient who wanted to see him, and has not engaged in questionable “favours”. He is constantly on the phone trying to find solutions, which often seem impossible.

Therefore, instead of casting stones at our hospital, through its management and our employees, we must support it.

The competent Ministry must IMMEDIATELY provide solutions to the existing problems, and the Minister must keep the promises he made when he came to Leros, so that the winter finds our Hospital “fortified” and worthy of the expectations of the residents of Leros and the other islands it serves.