A 20-year-old patient was injured after falling from the second floor of Kilkis General Hospital under unclear circumstances, prompting renewed concerns about safety conditions in the facility.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 9, when the patient, hospitalized in a second-floor clinic, fell through the bathroom window to the ground floor. He is currently being treated in the hospital’s surgical ward. According to hospital staff, the causes of the fall remain undetermined.

Safety Concerns in the Clinic

The patient had been staying in a ward located in the hospital’s A Wing, a building dating back to 1937. According to a statement by the hospital workers’ union, the same clinic accommodates patients with dementia, those recovering from suicide attempts involving medication, and individuals with stroke-related conditions.

The union noted that the incident could have ended far worse and recalled a similar tragedy in 1985, when a patient fell from a balcony in the same ward and died. Concerns over the clinic’s safety infrastructure had previously been raised both verbally and in writing three years ago by a union member, but no corrective action was taken.

“Probably Just Wanted to Leave,” Says Staff Union President

Speaking to local media, the president of the hospital workers’ union, Paschalis Masouras, dismissed the possibility of an attempted suicide. He suggested that the young foreign national might have been trying to leave the hospital without formal discharge and, struggling with communication barriers, believed escaping through the window was the only option.

Masouras also highlighted broader issues regarding safety and staffing at the hospital. There are only six security guards in total, with just one on duty during evenings and night shifts. He added that hospital staff have previously faced verbal abuse from patients and their families, further emphasizing the need for improved safety measures.

He urged authorities to install appropriate protections in bathroom areas, which currently lack adequate supervision and control mechanisms.