Family raises concerns over hospital care for autistic child after car accident

On Saturday, May 2, a car accident occurred on the road from Geri toward the Leroy Merlin roundabout, involving two children aged 2.5 and nearly 7 years, along with their mother and another woman. The older child is non-verbal and on the autism spectrum. Following the accident, the family transported the children to the Accident and Emergency Department of the General Hospital, where they reported significant difficulties in managing the child with autism due to his state of panic and lack of specialized support. The family claims that critical medical tests, including a CT scan and X-rays, were delayed by 6 to 7 hours until an anesthesiologist could be called to sedate the child. While the family praised the anesthesiologists' response, they criticized the overall medical staff for alleged poor preparation and inadequate communication regarding the child's specific needs. The State Health Services Organization (OKYPY) issued a statement that the family disputes, claiming it did not accurately reflect the events. Both children were eventually transferred to Makarios Hospital for a 48-hour observation period.