21,500 operations at Mater Dei in first six months this year

A total of 21,548 operations were held at Mater Dei Hospital in the first six months of this year.

This is an increase of 4,440 interventions over the number of operations held in the first six months of 2007 - the last year of St Luke's Hospital, when 17,108 operations were held by the end of the year.

The Health Ministry said this morning that an average of 119 operations are being held daily at Mater Dei, including on Saturdays and Sundays.

The number of operations in the first six months of this year were also 927 more than in the same period last year, when a record 41,792 operations were held by the end of the year.

May this year was a record month with 3,762 operations.

The ministry said that several initiatives are being taken for the number of operations to increase reducing the waiting period. There was an increase in the number of nurses and professionals working with the health department and there was also an increase in the number of hours during which operating theatres are used.

Agreements have also been reached with private clinics where cataract operations for which the government will pay will start to be performed.

Health Minister Joseph Cassar thanked workers in the sector for their contribution year round.