The Medical Association (MAM) this morning became the second trade union in two days to call for government action to tackle overcrowding at Mater Dei Hospital.

It said the health authorities needed to come up with a long term and effective policy to provide services to elderly people who needed long term care, without relying on Mater Dei.

"Only acutely ill patients should be kept at Mater Dei Hospital and all other patients who do not require acute medical care should be discharged home or transferred immediately to a rehabilitation hospital or other temporary care facilities," the MAM said.

"Mater Dei cannot function properly when very ill and sick patients have to be put in corridors because of lack of space, and the most basic medical care cannot be provided. Patients who are genuinely ill deserve to be given not only the best treatment, but the privacy and the services Mater Dei was designed for."

The MAM appealed to the government to introduce legislation and regulation that protects the elderly and makes it impossible for inconsiderate family members to abandon them at Mater Dei, and at the same time cash in on their property and assets.

It said the authorities needed to act promptly and wisely to make sure that society provided both decent and adequate services for the elderly and that Mater Dei could function normally and the safety of patients admitted through the accident and emergency department was guaranteed.

Yesterday, a new trade union representing nurses at the Accident and Emergency Department complained that a shortage of space meant that patients also had to be treated in the corridors.

See: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100818/local/nurses