With a «heavy heart» and almost «forced» but also «indignant» said goodbye to her island Serifos, to his colleagues and his patients, the general family doctor, Attending Physician A’ of the Regional Clinic of the island, Thanasis Kontaris.
He made his decision known through a Facebook post, but also the letter to the Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, in which he lists the reasons that led him to leave his position on the Cycladic island.
In it he says, among other things, that «the residents of Serifos and other small islands are treated as third-class citizens», points out the understaffing of the clinic especially in the summer months, while he says that a personal doctor was appointed without being consulted, something he is unable to serve especially during the summer period.
The whole post:
END OF THE ERA
With a heavy heart, almost forced (indignant), but at the same time with a feeling of relief, a circle is closed.
Here is the memorandum - accompanying my resignation from the NHS - received by the Minister of Health.
Thank you to everyone who has been by my side on this journey!
Goodbye.
«Dear Minister, I would like to inform you of the following:
- I returned from Sweden in 2018 to serve the N.S.Y., something I have done with love, dedication and sacrifice to this day.
- The inhabitants of Serifos and other small islands are treated as third class citizens.
- The health services provided by the PGI SERIFOS are unsafe for the residents and visitors of the island, especially during the summer months. The reasons are the workload, the increased number of visitors to the island and understaffing.
- I am appointed as a GP/FAMILY DOCTOR, 4.5 years as a B attending and 3 months as an A attending and I have never managed to organize the PHC. The reason is the above mentioned reasons and the fact that I am an emergency physician and not a GENERAL/FAMILY DOCTOR.
- I was appointed a PERSONAL DOCTOR without being asked about it. Something I am unable to serve, especially during the summer months. This not only caused confusion to the residents of the island but also added further difficulty to my already difficult work.
- After 10 years of experience in the Swedish national health care system, I have to inform you that attempts - by all governments - to organise Primary Health Care have failed from birth.
- The Ministry of Health has never taken seriously into account the insularity and importance of the Cyclades in any legislation and in any notice. In the last call for applications, in August 2022, most of the medical posts related to the Cyclades were left unclaimed.
- Understaffing combined with the pandemic and the ever-increasing demand for health services has left doctors, nurses and health workers mentally and physically exhausted.
- While there is a clear and proven increase in the number of visitors to the island of Serifos over the last 4 years (the data is available to you), and consequently an increased demand for health services, there has been no corresponding response to the increase in the staff of the PGI Serifos, despite my appeals.
- Staying on such a small island of the Cyclades is a huge challenge for a doctor. Apart from the objective difficulties and the difficulties in making medical decisions (weather, schedules), it involves social isolation, desolation, punctuality, difficulty of movement and scientific exclusion.
- I live with my family and work on a small island that does not have: a home help programme, a community nurse, a private doctor, a paediatrician, (elements that could decongest the PGI SERIFOS operation) and a kindergarten.
- The Municipality of Serifos is unable, due to legislation, to provide an incentive to the only qualified doctor. The same applies to the South Aegean Region, which grants an allowance only to rural and auxiliary doctors.
- During the summer months we work overtime, illegally and with exhausting hours, to the point that we are dangerous for the safety of patients, while our payment mainly concerns (we are compensated for) 7 on-call duties.
- There is no social, economic and scientific incentive for doctors-scientists who want to work in inaccessible and problematic areas such as the Cyclades.
- Speaking of brain drain, the Hellenic Statistical Service is by no means an attraction for Greek doctors who have left for abroad.
- As much as we have tried to find a solution with my supervisor, the 2nd DYPE, the existing legislation leads us to a dead end.
For all of the above, and for many more, I inform you that I have submitted my resignation from the position of GENERAL / FAMILY DOCTOR, ed. A' of P.P.I. SERIFOS.
Sincerely,
Athanasios Kontaris
GENERAL FAMILY DOCTOR
Supervisor A’, PGI SERIFOU»
