Hospital never refused treatment to baby

I refer to the article Anger Over Refusal Of Free Hospital Treatment For Baby (January 19). Allow me to correct some of the information which may lead to further misunderstandings on this matter.

The child was born in October under the mother’s surname and was given three days of treatment at Mater Dei Hospital (October 3-5).

The child was admitted again to hospital on December 27, this time under the father’s name. Since the baby’s birth certificate was not presented to verify entitlement, as with all other non-entitled persons, they were asked to pay for services but treatment was never refused to the baby. The Health Ministry’s customer care was informed of the case and got in touch with the mother of the child. The matter was settled without any political pressure.

A few days later Silvio Parnis tabled a parliamentary question saying the child was refused treatment by the hospital.

The minister could not answer the question because the child’s surname quoted by Mr Parnis was not correct and therefore was not found on the hospital registration system. I have spoken to the child’s grandmother who confirmed consumer care at the ministry had given the correct information to the family. She also confirmed that the child was never refused any treatment by Mater Dei Hospital staff.

Editor’s note: The report in question said: “...free treatment was eventually granted but only for that one occasion”, referring to the baby’s visit to hospital at three months of age.