Hospital migration to start with telephone lines

The first step in the transfer of services from St Luke's Hospital to the Lm250 million Mater Dei Hospital will be made next month with the multi-phased migration of telephone lines.

The telephone migration will be accompanied with extensive information campaigns to ensure that all aspects of the changeover are well understood both by the public and by staff members, Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech said.

Mr Fenech also announced that Mater Dei's Accident and Emergency Department and the block housing the mortuary would be ready in a few days' time.

The Lm250 million being invested in Mater Dei Hospital will mean an annual investment of about Lm5 million a year if the hospital lasts 50 years, he said.

During a visit to the new hospital - which has lost its construction site image - Mr Fenech said it was worth investing about Lm4 million to Lm5 million a year to have the hospital.

He reaffirmed the government's determination to complete Mater Dei by July 1. He told the media at the end of his tour of the hospital the government was working hard to respect that date, although he admitted that working with contractors and tenders sometimes causes hiccups.

"But we are still actively pursuing our target to give the people this important hospital," he said. He said the heavy construction works inside the hospital were now completed, and work was underway in the last remaining external areas dedicated to the hospital's helipad. Finishing works in the common areas had also reached an advanced stage and landscaping works were underway.

Visiting the hospital yesterday was Anita Perry, the wife of Texas Governor Rick Perry, who described it as "incredible" and "impressive" and a true example of the government's dedication to the people. Mrs Perry - a trained nurse who has worked in healthcare for 17 years - said this was a facility that would instil pride in the staff working there.

"Malta is lucky to have such an incredible facility, which will also allow it to offer superior services," she said, adding that it was not often that in small countries like Malta governments invested such large sums of money in free healthcare services.

One of the changes that Mater Dei will offer will be in the Obstetrics Department. To ensure better continuity of care, new mothers will go back to the same bed they occupied before going into the delivery room after having the baby, to be cared for by the same staff.

There is also a room for bereaved parents, who will be kept separate from others holding their newborn babies.

The Prime Minister's wife, Kate Gonzi, accompanied Anita Perry on her visit to the new hospital.