Mintoff back in hospital - January 27, 2011

Former Prime Minister and Labour leader Dom Mintoff was readmitted to hospital suffering from shortness of breath yesterday afternoon.

The 94-year-old, who was only discharged from hospital on Monday, is thought to be suffering from aspiration pneumonia, an infection of the lungs caused by breathing foreign materials, usually food or liquids into the lungs.

During his last stay, Mr Mintoff’s medical team said he was suffering from many conditions common to the elderly, including congestive heart failure, an irregular heart beat and high blood pressure.

He has been in and out of hospital these past months.

On September 16, Mr Mintoff was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital’s intensive care unit in a confused state, having suffered a light stroke.

After spending a week in ITU, he was moved to a medical ward and discharged from hospital a week later, only to be re-admitted after two months, on November 10, to the Coronary Care Unit with heart failure and dehydration.

Having served as a Prime Minister twice between 1955 and 1958 (when Malta was still a British colony) and again, post-Independence, from 1971 to 1984, Mr Mintoff remained an MP for over 50 years until 1998.