Meals exceed patients and workers at Gozo general hospital
The Auditor-General has complained of poor control on food purchases and excessive provisions at the Gozo General Hospital.
In a report tabled in Parliament yesterday, the auditor noted that although the number of employees entitled to meals was reduced from 110 to 85, daily records showed that 90 workers enjoyed free meals on a daily basis. In just one day, the number of milk cartons supplied to the employees' dining room was 112.
An analysis of ricotta purchases showed that on average, only 40 per cent of the amount purchased was used by the hospital kitchen.
A further discrepancy was noted in the amount of fish delivered and the amount issued in meals.
The auditor said there was a lack of control in the procurement and distribution system with neither a computerised system nor any manual stock records to effectively manage the stocks.
No delivery notes were provided by the respective suppliers on certain purchased food provisions, particularly bread and fish.
An analysis of two records covering a sample three-month period revealed that the actual number of meals issued was consistently higher than the number of patients.
"This implied that excess provision was issued in respect of at least 2,954 overstated patients for full meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the three month period."
The auditor noted that the six menus at the hospital had been used for the past 35 years and were never reviewed. The menus gave no indication of the portion measures.
"Inconsistent and on occasions, also disproportionate quantities were distributed to various wards when compared to the population in each sector, resulting in consumption per patient (being) rather excessive and unrealistic," the auditor said.
The auditor also complained over the procurement of medical supplies.
He said that no stock records were kept for certain medical supplies. All quantities received were being forwarded to the medical staff upon delivery.
A requisition for defibrillating pads was drawn up by the technical expert who authorised the same request, having the local purchase order covering the purchase of these pads dated after the invoice.
Estimated cost shown on the requisition for the same pads was €116.47 while the actual cost paid was 493.52.
Management comments
In management comments, the auditor said the management had argued that around 60 per cent of the total ricotta procured was supplied to the kitchen while the remaining 40 per cent was delivered to the wards and distributed to patients for breakfast.
The auditor said this statement could not be verified since, though requested by NAO, no records confirming the distribution tot he wards were available.
Management also stated that the discrepancy between the fish supplied and that issued to the kitchen was to to the fact that in infrequent occasions, fish supplied had the head still attached and the supplier was therefore allowed to supply a larger quantity than that required.
"This argument cannot be accepted since evidence collected by NAO indicated plaice and tuna steaks," the auditor said.
The auditor said the management had still not addressed the issues of shortcoming sin the procurement of ricotta, discrepancies in the number of in-patients recorded, excessive provisions o the dining room, procurement of medical supplies, and employees' entitlement to meals.
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P.Cassar
Dec 4th 2009, 14:13
@ j martinelli
When labour critisizes something or anything out you come in shinning armour defending the indifensible BUT when gonzipn critisizes anything THAT IS JUSTIFIABLE. This is simply NOT credible.
J martinelli you have to choose either have the cake or eat it.
J Martinelli
Dec 3rd 2009, 18:48
When Auditors go outside the parameters they are prescribed, then they are subject to criticism like anybody else.
If the MEPA Auditor is so right and MEPA (his employer) so wrong, why does he stay on?
Is an Auditor (any) considered infallible?
Or, is this one large ego problem?
P.Cassar
Dec 3rd 2009, 18:06
@j Martinelli
What do you mean that Auditors are not 'persecuted' by this govt.? Where were you when the Mepa Auditor was heavily critisized
the Auditor general himself was heavily critisized
the jury system was heavily critisized
the 11 unions.........................................
etc etc
But then we never see you blogging when such news comes out, perhaps Canada cannot be reached when the weather is rough or else we stay quiet when it suits us.
g.sinagra
Dec 3rd 2009, 17:35
where is the usual breakdown of 'X % from Maltese tax paying public and X% from EU tax payers' for all these extra expences incurred?
P Sciberras
Dec 3rd 2009, 16:55
Amazing,when parafin was still subsidised,Gozo was using double the amount used in Malta'.Also in Gozo more people are invalidated then are in Malta.Also in Gozo people pay less vat than in Malta,I am thinking of settling in Gozo.
M Galea
Dec 3rd 2009, 16:42
Instead of cencentrating on Malta first and foremost what about some due care for us Gozitans instead of being treated like second class citizens,this goes for the diabolical roads,. Jobs, schools, and many many more that are not up to the standard as our brethrens surely we fly the same flag or not? we pay the same taxes as you lot, same road tax...etc., etc.,
Galea. L
Dec 3rd 2009, 16:04
J Martinelli
Seems you are out of touch Martinelli.
How about the example of the MEPA auditor?
Deo Catania
Dec 3rd 2009, 16:03
@N Calleja. First thing learn to understand what you read and read the whole article. as for ricotta Auditor said only 40% was being used and this is on a daily basis.
Vincent Galea
Dec 3rd 2009, 16:02
One day we are all going on a long journey.
We need to take along enough nourishment to last for eternity.
r pace bonello
Dec 3rd 2009, 15:44
Could it be that it is not only the employee who has a meal entitlement but his WHOLE family. Gozo is indeed a republic and has been taking the Maltese tax payer for a ride for years and years.
Surely somebody is responsible - but who is accountable? Will the Auditors report be filed away to gather dust? Will the Auditor follow up to see if remedial action is taken? Has the Auditor made any reports on VAT collection from our sister Island???
@N Calleja GROW UP
M Grech
Dec 3rd 2009, 13:47
Viva c-Civil u t-trasparenza u korrettezza tieghu!
J Martinelli
Dec 3rd 2009, 13:44
@ joe scerri et al
How can the Auditor be 'gagged' when his report has been published and the contents made known?
What are Auditors for? Their job is to point out discrepancies and suggest ways of correcting them. Maybe the 'correcting of discrepancies' is the most difficult task and often missing from Auditors' reports.
The Auditors should listen to the personnel he is investigating and should not dismiss explanations regarding certain perceived discrepancies in operations they are hardly familiar with.
Waste costs the taxpayer real money and what remains unanswered in the Auditor's report, is, if indeed there are discrepancies between the supply and actual use of foodstuffs, where is the difference going? Is it being dumped or is it finding its way to employees?
With regards to record keeping, I fully agree that a computerized system be adopted anon and perhaps some organizations in Gozo can fund-raise enough money to get a state of the art computer and software system. Why always wait for the government?
Many overseas hospitals receiving billions each year (and always running a deficit) rely on lotteries and the public's generosity to break even!
A.Busuttil
Dec 3rd 2009, 13:28
What a joke, ara f'hiex wasalna 112 il litru halib ghal 85, forsi ghal energija biex jahdmu aktar. Jekk hemm nuqqas fil halib mela fil medicini x'hemm. We excpect a responsible reply from the Minister for GOZO jew allura we go to Eddie fenech Adami golden saying :min ikun jaf bil korruzzjoni u ma jghamel xejn ikun komplici.: WE NEED A DECENT ANSWEAR GIOVANNA
Galea. L
Dec 3rd 2009, 13:19
J Farrugia
It's the person running the hospital who is responsible to see that there is no abuse.
Why are you showing such hatred for the unions and the workers Farrugia?
How about stopping all the higher government employees from having mobiles, cars, insurance, bonuses etc paid by us through our taxes while they enjoy a much higher salary than the rest of us lesser mortals?
I think it's more likely to be discrepancy between the invoices and the actual food delivered as said by e.tabone
j.spiteri
Dec 3rd 2009, 12:56
Seems like the Auditor is trying to kill the Goose that lays the Golan Egg at Craig Hospital. We eagerly await the reaction of the farmer's wife.
N.Calleja
Dec 3rd 2009, 12:52
Are we to understand that the Auditor General has nothing else to do than to a descrepancy in rikotta takings at the Gozo Hospital? The biggest laugh for 2009!!
D.MANGION
Dec 3rd 2009, 12:51
An indirect subsidy for the production of the "gbejniet !"
.....and me....the average Gahan....pays for all this....and swallows the legend of the "par idejn sodi".
A. Borg
Dec 3rd 2009, 12:43
Din ikbar mill-miraklu "Ta Kana"!
TBriffa
Dec 3rd 2009, 12:30
Mhux l-Ghawdxin biss ta l-ahwa, lkoll kemm ahna smajna stejjer fuq l-Isptar f'Malta ukoll. Jien dejjem nghid haddiem, anke professjonist, eccellenti mhux bilfors ikun "manager" tajjeb ukoll. F'dal-pajjiz ghandna vizzju nlahhqu lil min hu bravu f'xogholu ghal "management posts" - ghandna bzonn nitghallmu x'ikun "manager" u ngharrfu li f'certi pozizzjonijiet ghandna bzonn inlahhqu nies b'esperjenza mis-settur privat - fil-privat hadd ma jhalli serq bl-addocc ghax lid-diretturi u lix-"shareholders" trid turihom profitt!
Andrew Grech
Dec 3rd 2009, 12:05
"What's for lunch today boys?"
J Farrugia
Dec 3rd 2009, 11:48
@ E tabone why should the head of the department resign,? Why not call on the unions to resign en bloc because they are the traitors of the Maltese citizens. This should not be accepted practice. Workers eating from people's taxes. It's the unions fault for calling for these stupid privileges.
e.tabone
Dec 3rd 2009, 11:32
Free meals for the workers and their respective families?? Or discrepancy between the invoices and the actual food delivered?
The head of that hospital should resign immediately. Shame.
C.Agius
Dec 3rd 2009, 11:32
Just one off!!!!!!!!!!! The rest under the carpet. How can one trust the Government. No Controls except for the very few (as long as these are not friends) and the deficit reaching for the skies. It would be interesting to know how much tax is collected from Gozo.
joe scerri
Dec 3rd 2009, 11:26
Will the Auditor General be gagged like the Mepa one?
U. D'Amico
Dec 3rd 2009, 11:25
Hobzna ta' kuljum, aghtina llum...
hadd ma specifika min fejn ha tigi jew ma tigix il hobza :)
Joe Cordina
Dec 3rd 2009, 11:25
a police investigation would not be amiss in this case
V. Sammut
Dec 3rd 2009, 11:00
Viva Ghawdex ! Very intelligent people. If the system allows it then one would be a fool to let it pass away, isn't it? Mela mhux kullhad irid jiekol jewilla.