Surgeries at Mater Dei increase by almost 3,000

Surgeons at Mater Dei Hospital performed almost 39,000 operations last year, a jump of 2,768 over the previous year.

A report seen by The Times attributes the increase to extra theatre sessions and an extension of some surgeon's theatre lists.

However, not all consultant surgeons who asked for extra theatre sessions or extended lists were accommodated, the report, which looks at surgeries carried out at Mater Dei Hospital, says.

According to a spokesman for the Health Ministry, 19 surgeons and physicians asked for extra theatre time but no information was forthcoming as to why some had not been given the extra time they requested and whether this will be granted to them this year.

Despite the increase in the number of operations, there are still a substantial number of people waiting for surgery. In fact, the last available statistics, dating back to last June, showed that 22,621patients were still on the waiting list, down by 105 from January 2009.

October was the busiest month for surgeons last year, with over 3,500 operations having been carried out. About 3,300 operations were done in October 2008, which was also the busiest month of the year.

December was the quietest month last year, with fewer than 3,000 operations being performed, below 2009's monthly average of 3,229.

Just under 6,000 surgeries carried out last year were emergency operations, almost 2,000 of which were major operations. Another 351 were complex major operations.

Among the 32,747 elective operations, the majority were minor operations - 11,729 - or intermediate - 12,919.

Last year, there were 1,721 cataract extractions, an increase of over 500 from 2008. Former Social Policy Minister John Dalli said last month there were 5,735 people waiting for a cataract operation. According to Health Minister Joe Cassar, a cataract operation costs the public coffers about €705.

Orthopaedic surgeons carried out 101 hip replacements and 274 knee replacements last year. This meant that the number of hip operations had almost doubled from 2008 while knee operations went up by 48.

In June last year, over 10,000 people were waiting for an orthopaedic operation, including knee and hip replacements. But there has been good news for patients waiting for an orthopaedic operation because last week's government gazette included a call for the re-engagement of retired public officers, including an orthopaedic surgeon.

Although Dr Cassar said the appointment was not primarily aimed at shortening waiting lists, he recognised that this would help.

"Over the years, we have engaged a number of retired doctors, not only orthopaedic surgeons," he said. In fact, the government is also seeking the services of a consultant in genito-urinary medicine, a consultant physician for the Gozo General Hospital and a medical officer in geriatrics.

Asked why retired doctors were being re-engaged, Dr Cassar said there were areas of medicine where more doctors were needed, including oncology, where no waiting lists existed.

"This move was not done specifically because of waiting lists. We are trying to retain brain power, although in orthopaedics it will help with waiting lists," he said.

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