€6m block at St Vincent de Paule Home nearing completion

The finishing touches are being applied to a new €6 million block at St Vincent de Paule Home which will accommodate up to 144 elderly residents.

The three-stroey block, named after Pope John Paul II, is set to be opened in the autumn, but Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea, who toured the premises today, said a firm date could not be given since some of the beds were being kept in reserve in case there was pressure on Mater Dei Hospital as a result of the H1N1 virus.

The new block includes two wards specially designed for patients who suffer from dementia.

The project makes extensive use of energy-saving materials and equipment which, Mr Galea said, would save the administration €64,000 in energy outlay every year.

Mr Galea said all the rooms have an ensuite bathroom. There are six atriums which serve as dining rooms and activity areas, eight staff rooms, four nursing stations, doctors' rooms, laundry chutes, four nursing stations, four treatment rooms and four pantries, three sluice rooms and two courtyards.