The construction of a general hospital on the Ionian island of Lefkada, Greece – along with provision of new medical equipment – significantly improves healthcare services for locals and visitors. The state-of-the-art facility replaces the old hospital, which had such limited provision that people had to leave the island to access good quality health services, even for minor problems.
New hospital on Greek island provides major health benefits to locals – and visitors
- 29 May 2020
Health services were poor due to the old infrastructure and equipment of the previous Lefkada hospital. The new hospital offers local people and visitors more upgraded services. There is now no need for them to travel to other major towns such as Ioannina and Patras, even for minor health problems.
The new hospital has a total surface area of 15 783 m2, and has been built near the town of Lefkada. The building has a capacity of 123 beds and provides services to a resident population of around 25 000 people, plus thousands of tourists who visit this beautiful island every year. The project also covered the construction of an access road and public utility infrastructure. Additionally, all essential medical equipment was provided, including a CT scanner.
Modern health services
Lefkada hospital has a ground-floor, a basement and two upper floors and operates departments, or units, for the following services: accident and emergency, out-patients, blood donation, Thalassemia illnesses, social medicine, medical imaging, surgery and psychiatry. There is a kidney dialysis unit, operating rooms directly connected to the emergency department, a maternity ward and a department for gynaecology and obstetrics, and a pediatrics department. The hospital is home to an internal medicine department, which includes a heart attack unit.
The hospital also contains a pharmacy, the admissions office, the registrar’s office, the administration offices, a restaurant for staff, a catering unit, laundry, storerooms, maintenance rooms, a medical archives room, a garage for ambulances, and common spaces.
Truly local provision
The new hospital provides a major boost to healthcare services on Lefkada. Previously, residents had to leave the island and visit mainland towns such as Ioannina and Patras to access decent services. This situation often meant that patients and their families had to face a great deal of inconvenience, discomfort and cost involved in travel, which in turn had a negative impact on the island’s economy. The new hospital’s modern services and equipment will help patients to access full health services more quickly. Moreover, the improved facilities help to upgrade the island’s tourism offer.
The project was phased between two programming periods. Phase one: 2007-2013, had a total investment of EUR 13 633 079, covered entirely by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Phase one was implemented through the Operational Programme “Peloponnese, Dytiki Ellada and Ionia Nisia” 2007-2013. Phase two: 2014-2020, had a total investment EUR 18 279 860, including ERDF funding of EUR 14 203 880.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Plan and construction of building and electromechanical works -Purchase-installation of medical technology equipment and furniture for the Lefkada (Ionian Islands) new General Hospital (phase two)” is EUR 18 279 860, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 14 203 880 through the “Ionian Islands” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Social Inclusion”.