Outpatients appointments

Emmanuel Vella questioned why outpatients' appointments in 2008 are still being called at St Luke's Hospital (July 13).

As already stated, Mater Dei Hospital will be fully functional by the end of this year. According to the migration sequence, the Outpatients Department will migrate during the second phase of migration. The first phase of migration has kicked off with the re-location of the management offices from St Luke's Hospital to Mater Dei. Some other areas of Mater Dei Hospital will also be handed over to the hospital management during July.

Once the decision is taken to migrate the Outpatients Department from St Luke's to Mater Dei, all customers who are due for an appointment at Outpatients Department will be informed of the change in venue by mail and/or by a telephone call. Information on changes taking place will be also disseminated through various media.

On another note, Mr Vella is incorrect to state that it took about 17 years to build Mater Dei Hospital. Work on Mater Dei Hospital started in 2000 as works carried out prior to this date were related to the San Raffaele project and to a larger general acute hospital.