UPDATED: MAM walks out of meeting with the government
The Mosta health centre.
An MAM delegation this morning walked out of a 'conciliation meeting' with the government after Social Policy Minister John Dalli presented figures showing there were sufficient figures for health centres to be manned at all hours.
Mr Dalli told a press briefing that the doctors' representatives had walked out of what he said was a conciliation meeting, without saying anything.
He hoped they would return to the negotiating table, and said that if the figures were challenged, he was prepared to carry out a scientific survey.
The MAM last Monday ordered doctors not to work in three health centres but to report for work in other health centres, in protest over a shortage of doctors.
But Mr Dalli said today that an exercise which his ministry had carried out found that the number of doctors was sufficient for the health centres to be manned at all hours. The exercise, he said, involved the number of doctors, the number of people calling at health centres, and doctors' home visits.
Mr Dalli said there could be better deployment of the doctors because some health centres needed a bigger complement in the morning, but a smaller one at night.
"I have enough doctors to fill all the health centres in all hours, I will not accept that the MAM reduce the service," Mr Dalli said, adding that his figures were taken from the doctors' register.
MAM REACTION
The Medical Association in a statement denied that it was involved in a conciliation meeting of any sort.
"We were called for a meeting where the minister presented his figures," MAM president Martin Balzan said.
The MAM insisted it would not re-negotiate the agreement he had just signed two days ago.
The association published the agreement which, while providing that the MAM would lift its directives, also provided that health centre doctors would operate all four health centres (Cospicua, Qormi, Gzira and Rabat) 8-5 p.m. till the end of this week.
They further agreed to enter into talks on future changes in work practices, including possible changes and farming out of GP services.
It was also agreed that from Monday, government health centre doctors would be expected within the current roster, to open 24 hours at Floriana, Paola and Mosta and man all other health centres from 8 am. to 1 pm. Two health centres (from among Cospicua, Qormi, Rabat and Gzira) would, between 1 p.m. and 5 pm., be manned by health centre doctors as directed by the management.
Health centre doctors would not provide medical cover or be requested to provide cover for vacation leave or sick leave at the other two health centres operating between 1-5 p.m. As regards to the manning of the other two health centres between 1-5 p.m. it would be the prerogative of management to implement those measures it felt were necessary.
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Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
May 23rd 2009, 13:30
All my interests are declared publicly – one special interest perhaps needs to be highlighted
I too have been a patient
Dr Frank Portelli MD FRCS(Ed)
Edward Zammit
May 21st 2009, 23:43
@Raymond Buhagiar
It is not the doctors' job to register patients; that task falls to the receptionists. However I can assure you that a significant percentage of patients are not registered, usually after 5pm and especially during the night. in short, Mr. Dalli's figures are wrong. MAM has never objected to any computerised system.
@Keith Davis
Unfortunately the fact that Mr.Dalli's figures are way below the true figures, means that the hard work and dedication shown by me and my colleagues is underestimated and unappreciated.
J Mifsud
May 21st 2009, 20:11
Dear To Be Frank,
Why don't you be Frank about why you are so much interested in Health Care reform? Is it because of genuine interest....or is there a conflict of interest?
Chris Fenech
May 21st 2009, 17:38
@Raymond Buhagiar
We have had a computerised system in hospital for nearly 10 years (the PAS system).....MAM never complained about its introduction. So on what basis are you assuming that MAM will object to one in Health Centres?
Seven health centres plus numerous bereg, plus house calls, plus those on their rest or off shift, plus vacation leaves....Now try to fit 40 doctors there!! You don't have to be a genius, do you? Plus if minister Dalli is trying to use current statistics he forgets that many people are going straight to mater dei casualty when the government is telling them to go to health centres, so he should be aiming for a greater number of emergency cases. And secondly a great chunk of the population never go near a health centre and go privately, because they don't want the wait....so forgetting those who go privately, and assuming that they don't need the government health care service is like saying that airmalta doesn't need to start flying to New York because there were 0 passengers flying directly from Malta to New York last year!!
Maria Dolores Fenech
May 21st 2009, 17:23
This morning I called the Polyclinic at Paola to ask for a doctor to visit my 8 year old child at home who has chickenpox. The receptionist told me that due to a shortage of doctors, if I want my child to be medicated, I should take her to the Polyclinic myself. When I pointed out that chickenpox is contagious, she told me that she can do nothing else and the telephone line went dead!
Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
May 21st 2009, 16:36
Pity
These issues need to be resolved around a discussion table because they concern patients
In any medical dispute ultimately it is always the defenceless patient who suffers
We in the medical profession have a commitment towards patients above everything else
Doctors and Nurses need to do their part – and the Health Authorities needs to do its part too
I trust that Doctors in the Administrative part of the Health Department are not out of touch with the clinical environment in Health Centres and Hospitals
I am stating publicly that I am ready to do my part to help resolve this and other issues which have been pending for such a long time such as the waiting lists
It takes 2 to Tango
Frank Portelli
Keith Davis
May 21st 2009, 16:12
Well done Minister...if one proves facts then hopefully no one can take advantage of the system which is very costly to each and everyone of us citizens!
Wastage is not tolerated! Everyone needs to be accountable!
Raymond Buhagiar
May 21st 2009, 16:10
Could it be that doctors are not registering 'all' patients visiting the health centres? If the Health centres use a computerised registering system one could easily tell the length of stay of each patient and other statistics such as comsumables used for each patient. If the computerised patient registration system is so old that these statistical features are not available then Minister Dalli must ensure that this computerised system is installed right away.
I am almost sure that MAM will object to this.
Lewis Ellul
May 21st 2009, 15:53
Very disappointing as Minister Dalli seems to have joined the "arrogant bandwagon" of Gonzi, Gatt, Fenech and Pullicino. Who's next?
CARMEL ZAMMIT
May 21st 2009, 15:03
ok continue treating patients like this comparing them to figures health is not accountancy every case a doctor examines differs from the other you have not a set time if for safe practice a clinic has to shut down so let it be better five well staffed then eight running on crisis management you can play with statistics but not with peoples health otherwise you end up with health hazard vis a health service doctors and nurses are there to work BUT THEY HAVE THERE DIGNITY AND THEIR PROFFESION TO LOOK UP TO