Updated: Two operating theatres for cataract operations

Two operating theatres will be used simultaneously at Mater Dei Hospital as from next month for cataract operations, Health Minister Joseph Cassar said this afternoon.

As a result, he said, the number of cataract operations would rise by 1,300 per year, significantly cutting the waiting list for such eye operations.

The minister was speaking at a press conference during which he reviewed the work of his ministry over the past year.

The minister explained how the number of operations at Mater Dei last year reached 39,000, an increase of 6,000 over the last full year in St Luke's Hospital. The growth momentum had continued into this year. He said that some 106 operations were performed every day, some of which were emergencies.

Dr Cassar said a review of waiting lists for orthopaedic operations had revealed that 49 per cent of those on the list had either already been operated, or their names were entered more than once.

Turning to the situation at the Emergency Department of Mater Dei Hospital, the minister said the department saw an average of 280 patients every day of whom only about 50 were admitted to hospital. 70 per cent of the daily turnover of patients went to the department without a doctor's referral.

Dr Cassar said that in order to reduce waiting time at the department, the government had approved the engagement of an additional 12 doctors for one year.

Furthermore, he said, thanks to the Foundation Training Programme, which started last year, fewer doctors were going to the UK for further training. Whereas before as many as 75 per cent of new doctors used to leave for the UK, 80 per cent were now staying here.

Dr Cassar said the government last year spent €22 million on free medicines, an increase of 6.4% over the previous year. Part of the increase was the result the purchase of new medicine, including Herceptin, against breast cancer.

The minister said that this week, a call for expressions of interest for the building of a new health centre to serve Sliema, Gzira and Msida was issued by the government.

SWINE FLU

Referring to Swine Flu, Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea said the government had ordered 341,500 vaccines and subsequently returned 83,500 to the suppliers. He said around 100,000 vaccines had been taken. The total cost was between €2.5m and €3m but he could not be more specific for contractual reasons.