More than 200 ‘very sick people’ admitted to Mater Dei since Friday
More than 200 “very sick people” were admitted to Mater Dei as in-patients between New Year’s Eve and 4 p.m. today, the Health Department said.
It said that the current state of affairs at the Accident and Emergency Department of Mater Dei Hospital reflected the overall situation in the Maltese Islands where many people were being affected by seasonal influenza.
Earlier today, the Emergency Nurses' Union warned that it may resort to industrial action unless overcrowding at the Accident & Emergency Department was eased. It said it was concerned about “the shameful situation” at the department.
The union said it had been highlighting the problem of overcrowding and the shortage of beds at Mater Dei and had also warned the Health Department that the problem would escalate in winter.
Without referring to the union's statement, the department said this evening that, at this time of the year, there were peaks in hospital admissions due to chest infections as a result of seasonal flu complications, mainly in frail, elderly or chronically ill individuals.
Chest infections were also often accompanied by a general worsening of the overall health status. This was the same pattern of illness that was occurring across the whole of Europe.
The department said that the management and staff at Mater Dei were doing their utmost to handle the increased number of patients as best as possible and management fully understood and appreciated the increased workload on the nursing, medical and other staff. It was working hard to ensure a smoother patient flow.
Influenza activity in Malta was being monitored by the Public Health Department through the influenza sentinel surveillance system. The current situation ws that influenza-like illness in Malta as per case definition set by ECDC has trebled over the last 15 days as follows:
- Week 50/2010: 47.6 affected persons per 1,000 population
- Week 51/2010: 102.8 affected persons per 1,000 population
- Week 52/2010: 132.7 affected persons per 1,000 population
The department urged the public to take precautions to prevent the spread of flu.
Such precautions included frequent hand-washing and staying home if sick.
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t.mifsud
Jan 5th 2011, 22:13
. if you have real flu you cant get out of bed due to the terrible headaches, nausea, and terribly high fever, after 3 days of this i dragged myself off to the gzira polyclinic as i don't have a family doctor as i rarely get sick,,and was told the doctor only works till 5 pm, i decided to wait as could not bear another night of terrible sweats and nausea, the waiting room was full, and no-one looked ill, they were all chatting away as if at a social gathering !! even when the receptionist came and told us to leave as time was up, they sat on and carried on their chat !!! while i had to drag myself off, feeling terrible to pharmacies desperately looking for a doctor, when i finally did, i was near collapse and told off by the doctor that i should never have left my bed !!! Polyclinics should merit the urgency of the patients needs and leave the time wasters waiting as to them it's seems to be a soclal occasion, no wonder the doctors get fed up. mater dei obviously has the same problem !!!
Sander Depasquale
Jan 6th 2011, 09:16
Very true!!! One day i went to the emergency coz i blanked out and was still feeling sick and there was a couple who came after me at the emergency of Mater dei. They were kissing and chatting and yet they were admitted before me. I had to wait for 10 hours!
c.t. busuttil
Jan 5th 2011, 16:27
I was shocked at how many ppl were sick this Christmas notwithstanding the mild weather. We need information on how to boost our immune system: the right foods, fresh air, exercise and clothing. Spot announcements on all media to educate on the prevention of illnesses. We need polyclinics to be manned properly to prevent over-crowding at A&E at MD Hospital. Waiting rooms (especially in pharmacies) need adequate ventilation and a consecutive number should be given to each patient, so that ppl can choose to step outside while they wait instead of cluttering small rooms.
J. Galea
Jan 5th 2011, 12:04
Does "very sick people" means H1N1???
myriam warrington
Jan 5th 2011, 10:01
I tend to agree with Karl Consiglio that people are not eating well so their immunity is weak. Moreover in the Christmas season, people increase their carbohydate and sugar/acidity intake and that weakens the immune system even more so it increases illnesses, stomach pains,joint pains etc. If it is influenza, surely it is not a case to go to emergency at Mater Dei is it? I would think it is a case of calling a doctor, even from the polyclinic, for a house visit, or just taking some cold and flu medicine. People with chronic illnesses should know what to avoid and would know if it is an emergency. Admittedly, there is a problem at Mater Dei emergency, just as there was at St. Luke's before it. We know when we go in but not when we leave! But I honestly think we should be wise enough before letting fear take over and rushing to emergency, and leave that for major complications, accidents, broken limbs, heart attacks and other 'real' emergencies. We might hear less complaining then.- Or do we just complain for complaining sake a la Maltija and naturally bring politics into it.?
j scerri
Jan 5th 2011, 09:58
Refurbish and re -open part of St. lukes Hospital and use it 24/7.
M.Bezzina
Jan 5th 2011, 11:24
you need a Dr and all emergency equipment to reopen such area in SLH......not easy to say it!!but not impossible either!!
o.galea
Jan 5th 2011, 11:54
a lot was being said at one point that many beds are taken up by "social cases".
Can't they be taken to St. Lukes I wonder ?
unless of course, the problem is not enough doctors and nurses....
ray pace
Jan 5th 2011, 09:24
This is an annual occurance. The medical and cardiac wards are too small to cater for the amount of "cardiac" problem patients that suffer such chest infections throughout the year but especially at this time of the year, and this I say from experience. Patient turnaround in these wards take longer than in other wards thus a re-organisation of wards should be done asap to free up space to cater for medical/cardiac/ a&e cases.
J Farrugia
Jan 5th 2011, 07:54
Dawn in-nurses li jghidu li huma professjonisti jistghu idahhluha darba ghal dejjem go rashom illi hadd ma jista jipprevedi kemm ser ikun hemm pazjenti sa siegha ohra? Jistghu jifmhuha li l-pazjent huwa pazjent u jrid jibqa pazjent minhabba dak li jkun qed jghaddi minnhu? Jistghu dawn il-professjonisti medici jaqbdu u jitfghu lill-pazjenti "zejda" 'l barra mill-isptar tal-poplu u mhux taghhom? Jistghu icahhdu lil xi cittadin malti jew barrani li jkollhu bzonn kura medika minhabba xi incident (u incidenti jsehhu ta' kuljum) milli jigi kkurat fl-Isptar Mater Dei? Dawn x'inhuma bicciera jew professjonisti? Allura ghalfejn dad-daqq tat-tnabar qisna ninsabu fi gwerra? Theddid ta' azzjonijeit industrijali wahda f'wahda. Hadd ma jista jipprevedi incidenti imma meta jaslu l-isptar ghalhekk inbena' biex il-korruti jigu kkurati fih. U min din ma tghogbux jitlaq mix-xoghol tieghu u jmur jahdem mal-iskrapan. Dat-theddid irid jieqaf darba ghal dejjem. Veru hemm pressjoni stagjonali kif ukoll disgrazzji li jsehhu fuq l-individwi. Mur gibhom dawn ikollhom xi tragedja f'idejhom. X'jaghmlu? jghalqu l-isptar jew ma jaccettawx pazjenti? Tal-Misthija dawn l-unions.
d borg
Jan 5th 2011, 13:50
u tista inti qabel ma tiftah halqek.. tmur tahdem gurnata ma dawn l-infermiera..
jiena il bierah filghaxija kont hemm l-siptar, fl-emergenza ma xi hadd jigi minni.. bdejt nithassarhom l-infermiera.. ma jafyx fejn ha jaqbdu ihabbtu rashom..
tant kien hemm nies fuq stetchers.. li spiccaw bil kurutri principali tal emergenza imwahhlin.. tant li bdew jghidu li allahares tinqala xi emergenza lil xi pazjent f'xi kamra ghax ma kellhomx minn fejn jghaddu..
u sieheb.. trid titkellem naqra maghhom biex tara minn xiex qed jghaddu.. kien hemm wiehed minnhom bdejt insaqsih naqra sakemm kien qed jiehu hsieb li dan li jigi minni..
qalli.. mela sewwa.. il managers li suppost ippjanw l-isptar qatt ma jidru hemm.. il managers tal isptar qatt ma jidru hemm.. il konsulenti u it tobba jinghalqu fl-ufficju.. u in nies fuq min jinfexxu imbaghd.. mhux fuq in nurses!!
hekk sewwa...??
mela ejja noqghodu naqra attenti kif nitkellmu..
R. Mazzitelli
Jan 5th 2011, 15:16
Vera hadd ma jista jghid min qabel x'ha jinqala pero qabel nghamel tbazwira li tissejjah state of art min certi nies nara li almenu jekk jinqala dizastru nazzjonali jew epedemija jkolli fejn inpoggi hafna nies...ma nippretendix li jkun jesa xi nofs miljun ruh ta pero jekk taf li l-isptar li kellek qabel ma kienx bizzejjed u konna nraqqdu n-nies fil kurudur mela l-isptar il gdid nghamlu jesa hafna izjed nies...spazju hemm kemm trid ghax hemm kuruduri u receptions daqsiex...xeba hwienet u kummiedji qisek qijad l-airport!! vera sabih u kif ukoll...pero go sptar l-importanti li jkollok hafna spazju ghas sodod , apparat, tobba u nurses, ndafa u medicini mhux kuruduri u cerimonji!!!! mela tkun marid u jibatek id dar ghax m'hemm spazju!!!!
Janet Buhagiar
Jan 5th 2011, 07:50
The service at mater dei can never be up to date for the simple reason there so much conflict of interest in the parties involved . Remeber that Consultants ,doctors et al.....all work privately in hospitals clinics etc so its common sense ,its in there economic interest that mater dei isnt working smoothly so that poeple arnt happy with the service being given at Mater Dei and most of the time even at time when they cant do otherwise they go to private clinics. Obviously there is alot of dedicated staff but the order of the day is im putting it ...its common sense after all
A. Zahra
Jan 5th 2011, 12:08
I strongly disagree with you. I am a regular patient at Mater Dei and the treatment I have been given by the doctor consultants and the nurses is second to none. Friends from overseas who visited me in hospital marvelled at the very high standard of the hospital and at the dedication of the staff. Remember we have started the countdown to election day, persons who have a political agenda will now start to forment disconent and unrest. It was always like that and things never change.
Michelle Grech
Jan 6th 2011, 11:31
And I strongly disagree with you Mr Zahra. I am also a regular patient at Mater Dei and I always end up exhausted at every appointment I have. First of, I always end up at least 3-4hrs outside waiting for my turn at the Doc's office... after that when finally it is my turn, while I'm supposed to be examined, the phone rings multiple times, people just storm in without notice and the Doc really seems like he doesn't care. Sometimes I just opt that other consultants examine me even if they're new to the job, just to get it done! Also, when at some point I needed to contact my Doc for an URGENT matter I couldn't find him anywhere! I even used the number they gave me in case of any emergencies. I called in the morning, no one answered, I left a message and they got back to me late in the afternoon! Poor nurses they tried to put me in contact with another Profs that is also a specialist regarding my condition and I was utterly disgusted by her reply!... Clearly not willing to help.
This is not the way patients should be treated!
Joe E Galea
Jan 5th 2011, 07:42
When the Health Authorities stop being the bandwagon of Pharmaceuticals and start promoting natural healthy products, then we could have these situations avoided. I have been taking a natural probiotic (which I produce everyday) for almost 2 years. Since then I haven't taken a pill of antibiotic and haven't been sick for more than 24 hrs. When I start feeling that a cold is coming I just double the dose, i.e. I drink 2 glasses of this natural probiotic instead of 1. Obvioulsy all the doctors and Health Authorities will always talk against such natural cures since these products are of no income to the health business. Yes Health is a multi-billion dollar business. Pharmaceuticals thrive on people's sicknesses.
Kenneth Zammit
Jan 5th 2011, 07:38
So the Health Department is simply saying that Mater Dei is not prepared for a substantial increase in admission to the emergency department.
Scandalous, after we spent nearly €350 Million for this new hospital which was inaguarated only 3 years ago, yet we are facing problems in its infancy due to gross incompetency, misplanning and maladministration !
Lawrence Caruana
Jan 5th 2011, 07:27
We have built a new power station after a few number of years it is not sufficient we have built a state of the art hospital with not enough beds,and now we are awarding ourselves a pay raise,and this is big not to repeat the same mistake
gaffarena joseph
Jan 5th 2011, 04:08
For the kind attention of our health minister.
VAPUR BZEWG KAPTANI MA JIMXIX.
Mater dei is a state of the art hospital,but sad to say,bad management ,nepotism,and some irresponsable staff is causing all these hardships to all the patients.
There are enough workers there,and if every worker will do his/her duty,there will not be this problem.
William Attard McCarthy
Jan 5th 2011, 01:16
...not everyone is able to just phone in sick. I know people who have been made to go to work even while running a fever.... I also know of people who have to work their "off" days if they take sick leave.
C. Weitze
Jan 4th 2011, 23:45
My son was admitted to the emergency ward by ambulance on New Year's Day. Although the place was overcrowded with patients I must say that, considering the enormous work load the emergency staff was facing, everything was well organized and the staff efficient and friendly.
Having said that, the amount of patients in beds along either side of the corridors due to no available rooms on the wards was absolutely shocking!
DGalea
Jan 4th 2011, 22:55
The sudden change in temperature , the high humidity and pollution all contribute to making a whole lot of people feel very sick all of a sudden and at the same tinme, irrespective of wether there are beds available or not at MDH.
john debono
Jan 4th 2011, 21:54
I suggest that St. Lukes hospital should not be allowed to go down to waste. It is a well built hospital and most of it is still fully equipped. Government should not be stubborn. Part of St. Lukes should be re - opened to cater for the necessary health care in these present situations. This is an opportunity to relieve stafff and work load at Mater Dei and to also produce more job opportunities. Even the commercial areas around St. Lukes will benefit, and traffic congestion will be reduced from San Gwann and Mater Dei areas. All the infrastructure at St. Lukes is already in place. It is a great pity that it has not been allowed to keep on partially operating and offering post operation care and rehabilitation to patients.
patrick zammit
Jan 5th 2011, 10:07
JD
If the Govt does what you are suggesting, it would not be able to give St Lukes to some contractor(s) for peanuts.
patrick zammit
Jan 4th 2011, 21:31
Mater Dei has less beds than St Lukes which was built when the population of the islands was much lower than it is today.
It is very bad management plain and simple to do such a thing.
frank said
Jan 5th 2011, 00:07
hello flu shots.....
patrick zammit
Jan 5th 2011, 12:50
FS
I was refering to the fact that the govt built a new hospital with less beds than St Lukes when the problem of the shortages of beds was already being felt at St Lukes. St Lukes, in the first place, was built when the population was much smaller than what it is today.
Karl Consiglio
Jan 4th 2011, 20:48
People don't eat healthy food, so they don't have good immunity
J Oatmon
Jan 5th 2011, 06:43
A viral infection can, and does, attack fully fit healthy people, with normal imune system functions.
It is a wrong to believe 'eating good food' will somehow protect you from viruses - this is just not true. No matter how many fruits and vegs you eat, and all the exercise you do, all the vitamins you swallow etc - flu can decide to attack you and you get sick.
Flu is an airborne virus and you can breathe it in anywhere (on a bus, in hospital, at home, at the shops, etc) - flu can attack anyone of any age fit or unfit, so don't believe the 'old wives tales'.
edward bartolo
Jan 5th 2011, 07:15
Healthy food doesn't provide the immune system with the chemical identifiers it needs to recognize and attack an unknown virus. Flu viruses change continuously, and the way the immune system works, puts it at a loss with these viruses.
So, healthy food (aka low fat food) has nothing to do with a better immunity.
Christian Sciberras
Jan 5th 2011, 08:29
...
J. Bugeja
Jan 5th 2011, 11:55
I disagree that eating healthy foods does not make a difference.
A couple of years ago I did a radical change to my diet, switching to a much healthier one, and while I am not immune to the flu, I have a much shorter recovery time than ever before, plus the symptoms are not as bad to begin with.
A strong immune system is always a help - and the best way to get it is by living a healthy lifestyle.
Joseph E Briffa
Jan 4th 2011, 20:00
@ Mario Gellel...May I ask how you arrived at these conclusions? In life everything is relative. Governance > Are you making comparisons with the governance of Labour in the 70s and 80s? I am sure you are'nt. Standard of living> Malta has never experienced a better quality of life and please do not mention rises in fuel and energy costs,or the couple of cents in some milk products. Thank your lucky stars that we have a wide choice of products and can purchase imported fresh milk cartons, imported milk products including several kinds of top brand cheeses not just Polish cheddar. Forced cheap labour> The pioneer corps does not exist anymore. Besides there is a choice of working in 26 other EU countries besides Malta. Hospital Bed shortage: it's the time for seasonal flu and attendant chest infections. High unemployment: I believe Malta is the only EU state where the unemployment rate doesn't run into double figures. Inflation rate: Malta has to rely on imports for almost anything, so imported inflation is rampant. Besides the rate is quite low at the moment
A. Borg
Jan 4th 2011, 20:28
Yes you're right, a better quality of life but only to those who had the 600 euro rise and not for many others like me who's the main source of income is coming from a part-time job!
T Camilleri
Jan 4th 2011, 22:28
Joseph E Briffa better quality of ife? Maybe you and those whop are getting two salaries and also €600 PER WEEK COLA like your PM etc, but certainly not the rest of us. Those who have had their snouts in the trough for too long are certainly enjoying themselves Briffa. Can the authorities confirm whether Kate Gonzi, the PM wife, is employed at Castille at a hefty salary to stand in for the PM when he s occupied with other business?
smifsud
Jan 4th 2011, 22:59
@Joseph E Briffa..u are very dillusional in ur comments ...are you for real ?....ooh maybe ur one of those fortunate ones who is not worry about money ..ooh excuse me but that is not reality as there are a lot hurting out here trying to make ends meet and we are all living a facade pretending that the we are the center of the world ...think again !!!.....
d.magro
Jan 5th 2011, 06:44
Hallina Sur Briffa. Jibqa l-fatt li f`Mater Dei hemm mismanagement kbir u l-pjanar mhux tajjeb. Spjegali l-fatt kif intefqu dawk il-miljonu u jinzammu n-nies fil-kuritur. F`San Luqa ma kienx jigri hekk. Semmejt il-Pijunieri, habib, remember, li kien l-MLP li biddel ir-rotta t`ekonomija minn wahda bazata fuq is-servizzi militari ghal wahda fuq ekonomija ta mannifattura, servizzi u finanzi. Those are the facts and you cannot deny them my friend.
J Farrugia
Jan 5th 2011, 07:59
Briffa, your blinkered eyes are not making you a decent person to dialogue with.
Gerard Cassar
Jan 4th 2011, 19:58
Even for illness the government of the Hon. Dr. L. Gonzi B.a. LLD refers to the position overseas. A bit funny.No? All this to excuse by the government for not having enough beds for all the patients in a ultramodern hospital , state of the art, that can provide(against payment) access to a telephone line a T.V. line and if it where possible a "meals" line.
A waste of 200 million Euros for a hospital tha cannot provide a service for all the population adequately. St. Luke's was built when the population was 250 000. Mater Deoi built when the population reached 400 000 but with the same number of beds as St. Luke's if not less.
Can one imagine more waste of space and money.. And the P.N. have governed Malta for a quarter of a century.. A historical quarter of a century governed by just two P.N. prime Ministers Dr. E Fenech Adami And Dr. L.Gonzi.
T Camilleri
Jan 4th 2011, 22:32
What else can you expect from incompetent PN governments Gerard Cassar? This is apart from the Mater Dejn costing much more than you said.
A. Attard
Jan 4th 2011, 19:33
is it possible to request the HR section at one's place of work to send colleagues who are sick home? it is so irritating hearing colleagues cough away, hoarse and sickly...giving their usual excuses: "i am so bored at home...i'd rather come to work than take a day of sick"....or others saying "i have too much to do...i cannot afford to stay home"....such a selfish attitude...
Ik Spiteri
Jan 4th 2011, 20:55
HR should be able to send sick people home.. re have much to do attitude maybe not everyone finds the desk or whatever clear when she's back from sick but had to compensate for it when she returns back. Depends on how sick you feel. just a mild cold is acceptible, but not feverishness etc.
J. Borg
Jan 4th 2011, 23:49
Just because one coughs does not mean he/she should stay at home. .. a cough does not imply a cold or flu! I'd rather demand the health and safety officers to oblige the workers to stick to simple manners and wash their hands frequently, dispose well of tissues, covering one's mouth when coughing etc, etc, etc... In some professions being sick implies that their will be no replacement and in some health professions for example it means that other patients may not be treated, so i guess sick leave should not be taken for nothing unless certified and advised by a doctor.
ASpiteri
Jan 4th 2011, 19:28
blame those idiots who go to work even if they are sick!
some people feel some kind of pride in going to work sick...as if there's some kind of prize for such idiots!
when we take sick leave...we take back the liberty they stole from us - tom hodgkinson (how to be idle)
M. Attard
Jan 4th 2011, 20:01
It depends, I work with a company where you risk not to be certified by the company doctor!!!!
Chris Grillo
Jan 5th 2011, 06:40
A doctor not accepting that a person is genuinely sick should be reported to the health authorities!!! Because they are simply following the company's request that they not be certified.
the same idiots who come to work with a fever usually end up spreading their germs everywhere, with the effect that the rest of the office usually fall ill.
I will never accept a really ill colleague in the office, and will go out of m way to be beastly about it. As I have always done!
I usually go home myself, or more commonly, go to work in another office. Naturally, this is impossible for those who need to be in specific places...
J Farrugia
Jan 5th 2011, 07:58
You should be ashamed of yourself instead of being grateful to those who are allowing you to take leave and sickleave without reason. Shame on you for chastising your work mates who have to do your work should you become "sick" and stay away from your work. Shameful.
K. Vella
Jan 5th 2011, 11:23
I bet J Farrugia refuses his 24 days of vacation leave too. And I don't know why he bothers going home during the weekend. There's just so much work to be done!
mario gellel
Jan 4th 2011, 18:56
It seem Malta or better the Maltese have crises from every angle
1> Bad Governance
2>Bad standard of living
3>Forced cheap labour
4>Bed shortage in a state of the art hospital
5>High unemploment & high inflation
WELL, WHAT THE HELL IS NEXT ???????
Manuel Cassar
Jan 4th 2011, 19:57
High Unemployment?..........Check out the situation in Ireland, Greece and Spain!
Steve Zammit
Jan 4th 2011, 20:20
You also forgot to mention the following...
6) Environmental degration and rampant overdevelopment
7) Poor air quality
Regards
P.Zammit
Jan 4th 2011, 20:39
It's useless ... they ONLY see RED !!
Denis Desira
Jan 4th 2011, 21:54
Do you live in Malta????????????????
T Camilleri
Jan 4th 2011, 22:30
Manuel Cassar you should be looking at those who are better than us not those who are worse.
Anne Grech
Jan 4th 2011, 22:42
I know exactly what you mean as I am experiencing the same thing. When I get sick they make you feel sicker true abuse such as risking the doctor not certifying you sick!!!
Where are the human rights going???
Yes some idiots go to work although they feel sick ....Imsieken !!!
George Debono
Jan 4th 2011, 22:54
Hey, Want more ???
8) waste of money which could have been used (for instance) to engage more staff/buy equipment for Mater Dei
Eg 40,000 euros on adverts trying to fool people into thinking BWSC was all ok. About 60,000 euros for inauguration of St Georges Square, several 1000s to insugurate the qui-si-sana doo-da and all that kind of waste.
Charles Grima
Jan 5th 2011, 06:34
Mid-dehra qatt ma mort li spizerija ta l-siptar l-antik sur Gellel hux? Jew fl-emergenza? Bhala bniedem marid kronikament nnista nghidlek li tal biki kienet l-affari!!! Dawn l-affarijiet jigru! Mhux qed nghid li sew, imma jigru kullimkien.
Ara ma jfettillekx timrad l-Ingilterra habib!!! Ara biss ma jfettillekx!!! Wahda ta Mr.Bean taghmel! Tilbes vazun go rasek....forsi jaqduk malajr. Jew l-Italja? Ajma hej, tmur ghax tugek rasek u jaqtghulek saqajk!
Standard of living gholi mmens hawn ghandna Malta. Kullhadd b'karozza jew tnejn, familja kollha mobiles u computers, u XBoxes u cables u ghal fridge wahda tnejn, balla TVs.... dak jigi mill istandard of living gholi li ghandna! Jekk ghadek qed tghix fi zmien il labour tal-80s kont nifhmek, imma improvements bl-addocc sar!
Mhux qed nghid li kollox ward u zaghar, ghax hawn problemi kbar, specjalment bil pagi tal parlamentari u l-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma.... imma hdejn li konna bud...
J Oatmon
Jan 5th 2011, 07:10
I would add: -
8. bad driving (mobile chat driving etc).
9. a dysfunctional outdated courts system/judges not fit for purpose (justice delayed).
10. lack of accountability or transparency.
Joe E Galea
Jan 5th 2011, 07:43
@P. Zammit: Most of the Maltese are seeing RED in their bank accounts due to the sky rocketing cost of everything... :)
L.Desira
Jan 5th 2011, 08:38
mario, when does ignorance stop being a bliss? are you aware that malta is just part of a much larger world going through the same problems right now?
Joseph E Briffa
Jan 4th 2011, 18:46
It's obvious that the number of droplet-infection cases escalate over the festive season when people frequent crowded restaurants, shopping malls, attend street parties. It's no wonder that the E&E is overcrowded. So why is MUMN trying to make the situation worse by threatening industrial action? Would that be responsible behaviour? Let's hope that better judgement prevails. Let's also hope that the public will cooperate and refrain from making the situation worse by turning up at E&A for minor ailments or complaints simply because they are reluctant to call their private GP and pay a small fee.
T Camilleri
Jan 4th 2011, 22:31
You seem to be very well off Briffa. Not many people are like you because the vast majority of the population are not making ends meet.