Palliative Care Ward opened in 'celebration of human dignity'

A Palliative Care ward was inaugurated this morning at Boffa Hospital in what Health Minister Joseph Cassar said was a 'celebration of human dignity'.

The ward will provide focused support for patients suffering terminal illness, particularly cancer, and their relatives.

Patients will be helped to face their illness in a more effective manner so that their suffering and that of their relatives could be eased, the minister said.

Care would be provided by a multi-disciplinary team including doctors, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists and priests.

In his address, Dr Cassar thanked the Malta Hospice Movement, which has long worked in this sector, as well as the Malta Cancer Foundation and GO, which provided equipment for the ward.

During his visit Dr Cassar also inspected works on a bunker which will house the second linear accelerator for the treatment of cancer patients at Boffa Hospital. The linear accelerator is expected to be used for two years, before being transferred to the new Oncology Unit at Mater Dei Hospital.