Council against closing health centre

The Floriana local council yesterday hit out at the government's decision to close the Floriana health centre on Sundays and during the night.

Council mayor Nigel Holland said the centre was used by people living in Valletta, Marsa, Mqabba, Hamrun, Santa Venera, Pietà, Safi, Luqa, Zurrieq, Kirkop, Qormi, Siggiewi and Zebbug.

He argued at a press conference that closing it would increase the load on the emergency and accident department at St Luke's Hospital.

Mr Holland said that last week alone there were nine to 10 cases every night of people requiring a nebuliser for their asthma.

"This decision is weakening our health system and we believe the government should not economise on these important services," he said.

The decision has not yet come into effect.

The council's concerns echo those already made by the Medical Association of Malta and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses.

The press conference was also addressed by Marsa mayor Francis Debono, who said that while the government had promised the building of more health centres on the eve of the 1998 election it was now planning their closure at night and on Sundays.