The ministerial inquiry into a scam at Mater Dei Hospital in which a salesman deceived vulnerable patients by posing as a doctor is due to be completed by the end of January.

A Health Ministry spokesman confirmed that the salesman’s permit to visit the hospital in an official capacity has “been rescinded pending the outcome of investigation”.

In August, The Sunday Times reported how the salesman involved would introduce himself as a consultant doctor and even possessed an official hospital identity card confirming his position.

This emerged from patients’ testimony in the preliminary internal inquiry ordered by the ministry.

It is alleged that a nurse and a salesman charged patients hundreds of euros by offering wound therapy not provided by the state and, in certain cases, leading them to believe it was free.

The ministry had handed the internal report over to police for further investigation and even launched its own inquiry to ensure patients’ vulnerability was not abused.

“The matter is now in the hands of the police and the ministry is awaiting the outcome of the investigation,” the spokesman said.

The Sunday Times