Christian Peregin
Aid foundation slams ‘shameful’ nurses’ union comments
The treatment of Libyan patients at Mater Dei Hospital has raised the ire of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
The I-Go Aid Foundation has lashed out at “shameful” comments made by Paul Pace, president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, that Mater Dei Hospital is too crowded and unprepared for more patients.
The criticism comes after 14 more Libyans seriously injured in the fighting in Sirte and two journalists were brought to Malta for treatment on Tuesday.
Mario Debono, one of the founders of the Malta-based NGO I-Go Aid, which is involved in the operation, said Mr Pace had no shame.
“These are some of the most grievously wounded people and if they spent any more time in a plane they would have died. We are really making Malta proud this time, helping these young people, many of them civilians caught up in the conflict,” he told The Times in a phone call from Libya.
“Is it possible that in a hospital like ours we can’t take care of 14 patients at this critical moment? You have to be here to realise how bad the situation is. For every 50 injured people we see 15 dead,” he added.
In fact, while many other patients are being taken to other countries or hospitals in Tripoli and Benghazi, the best option for some of the worst wounded remains Malta.
Mr Debono said the fighting in Sirte was extremely tough.
“There are many mercenaries... not untrained Africans but extremely well-trained, professionally-equipped soldiers from places like Serbia. They know they are fighting with their backs against the wall so they are giving their all. They are protecting something very big,” he said, insinuating that Muammar Gaddafi could be hiding there.
Mr Pace issued the press statement on Tuesday saying Malta was not in a position to support any influx of patients.
“The government has to keep in mind the welfare of the nation and not resort to decisions just to please the international community,” he said, adding that Maltese patients were being left on stretchers instead of beds and nursed in hospital corridors.
“MUMN believes bigger countries with bigger health care facilities are to address such problems. In fact countries such as the US have huge hospital ships which can take up more than 900 patients and are even better equipped than Mater Dei Hospital.”
The union said it would support nurses who refused to nurse patients in corridors as if they were working in third world countries.
“This statement is being issued in the light that certain Maltese politicians tend to see foreign affairs as being more important for their own personal interest and therefore would not be capable of exposing the huge limitations which the health sector in Malta is passing through to the detriment of all Maltese who need such an essential service.”
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Second group of migrants arrives
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
76 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joseph A Borg
Sep 23rd 2011, 13:10
I assume that when an overwhelming emergency happens on these blessed islands the union will complain in the same way. This is an emergency, not normal day to day operations. Good or bad, libya has been a positive contributor to our economy, why should we treat a valuable neighbour with such spite and indifference?
I don't think it's hyperbole to declare a state of emergency and work the health system in such a manner. It would be a good practical test for when a calamity overwhelms the local health system. I assume there are plans, this is a good time to test them and improve them.
Marianne Tabone
Sep 22nd 2011, 20:17
X'suppost naghmlu bhala pajjiz? Inhallu n-nies imutu taht hajt fil-Libja? Min jaf kieku konna ahna kemm konna nghidu li hu dritt tal-bniedem li niehdu kura. U f'kazi bhal dawn sa noqghodu nghidu ghax dawn Maltin u dawn Libjani? Mhux kulhadd bniedem? Verament li hawn nies li huma nsara tal-isem u persuni civilizzati tal-isem ukoll. Ghax anke jekk bniedem ma jemmen b'xejn imma hej xi sinjal ta' simpatija ghal min hu fil-bzonn ma jhossx? Nistghageb kif union tasal biex titkellem hekk u bid-diskors taghha tinfluenza lil min ma jahsibx bizzejjed.
George Debono
Sep 23rd 2011, 11:13
Marianne
You have hit the nail on the head. Thank you for your comment. It sums up what being human means.
Mr carlos ellul
Sep 22nd 2011, 18:37
Maybe Aids foundation would consider teaching nurses how to run a ward would they? Am I the only one who is sick of having NGOs dictating how true professionals should work? If NGOs truly ruled Malta then we would be in a very bad state.
Colin Stanley
Sep 22nd 2011, 17:58
We should help where possible,why not this is an exception, we might need help one day, what I would like to know for example, could the Italian juornalist have been sent straight to Italy for treatment or he needs emergency operations here in Malta.? just asking.
Mr Ernest Vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:54
While I symphatise with all those victims, what MUMN wanted to point out was not the issue of helping people but the overcrowding of Mater Dei for lack of space, long ques at the Emergency because of lack of cordination were people are checked two three times, always with the same procedure...lot of bureacracy, time waiting which is getting much much longer...a nightmare to be exact.
The Go Aid Foundations is so fast to condemn the MUMN but MUMN is saying this from two years now. The Goverment may have given us a state of art hospital, but the system is wrong because it was brought from St.Luke's
Mr M Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2011, 09:29
Hbieb qeda titkellemu fil-vojt. Ghiduli liema pajjiz fid-dinja huwa ippreparat ghal disastru bhal ma qed isemmu. Jekk inthom qeda tghixu f'din id-dinja u mhux jghixu fis-shab barra din id-dinja tafu li pajjiz kbar bhal Japan sabiex insmmi wiehed li huwa zgur avvanzat minnha meta iffaccja disastru kbir kellu nirrikori ghal ghajnuna minn barra il-pajjiz. Ahna fic-cokon taghna ghandna emergency plan li inkunu nistaw nibdew bih sakemm tigi l-ghajnuna. Tajjeb nghidu li fid-dinja bhal ma taghmel jaghmlulek. Jekk fil-bzonn pajjiz jghin iehor bhal ma dejjem ghamlet Malta allura ninsab cert li jekk ikun hemm bzonn flimkien ma dak lidiga hawn f'pajjizna jinghaqdu ohrajn. Ma noqghodux inbezzu lin-nies ghalxejn u fil-vojt.
Mr Richard Caruana
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:31
Really shameful!
What would MUMN do in case, God forbid, of a major disaster on a national scale....walk out?
Thomas Armatys
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:07
I believe that a major disaster is what MUMN are worried about. It has been accepted as "normal" to nurse and treat patients in corridors. Where will the victims be treated in the case of a major disaster? MUMN are just trying to bring attention to this issue and are not being lazy or selfish.
Joseph Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:09
What would MUMN do in case, God forbid, of a major disaster on a national scale....walk out?
If a major disaster on a national scale occur.....surpise surprise ...we do not have place and manpower to handle it at the moment because our facilities are fully stretched already.
Jekk tahseb li l MUMN jekk jinqala xi major disaster ser tohrog il barra sejjer zbaljat.
Jiena u kull nurse iehor u kull persuna li tahdem l isptar lesti naghmlu min kollox biex nghinu jekk tinqala EMERGENZA fil pajjiz ...ahna qed nitkellmu ghax din kienet xi haga pjanata li setghet giet ko ordinata ahjar minghajr ma tinvolvi detriment lejn il pazjenti lokali (meaning il pazjenti li juzaw il Mater Dei bhalissa- mhxu necessarjament Maltin) .....emergenza isimha magha...trid tiddilja maghha dak il hin...inti f emergenza ma tafx kemm ser iweggawlek nies. Just jekk ma tafx .....Il mater dei jezisti Major Incident Plan li awtomatikament jigi fis sehh meta jkun hemm incidenti li jinvolvu numru ta korruti.... li ghamilna snin nahdmu fuqhu. Il problema hi li bil moghod kif stetcjajna ir rizorsi taghna ma gahndiex lok fejn inmorru jekk jinqala incident serju li jinvolvi hafna nies f pajjizna f dan il mument ghax gebbidna ir rizorsi taghna cewing gum.
Taf x nistaqsik jiena....jekk allahares qatt xi hadd mil familjari jkun involut f ipotesi ta Major incident f pajjizna....tkun kuntent li ir relative tieghek ma jistax jinghata il kura mehtiega suret in nies ghax ma hemmx min jista jaghtija sew u qed tinghata f post mhux adekwat?
L argument Ta Lawrence Attard u Thomas Armatys jaghmlu hafna sens.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Sep 22nd 2011, 12:30
RC you just hit the right note. If these people cannot handle 15 cases from Libya how would they cope in a national emergency as for example the one that hit Cyprus recently ,let alone a major explosion or an earthquake . There is further planning work to be done following this shameful incident for our emergency response services and the civil defence to ensure that our hospital service are able to cope and do not let us down in emergencies.
Personally I believe that given our humanitarian vocation as a nation and in view of alleged current shortcomings we should set up a military corps and military hospital facilities especially of the mobile field type wiithin our armed services to enable
(i) to be able to cope with emergencies and national disasters
(ii) To provide a medical service within our European Defence Community obligations which is noble and humanitarian in its aims of alleviating the suffering and caring for those often innocently caught in conflicts.
Joseph Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 13:22
correction sur Ganado....we are able to take care of 15 patients we are not able to add 15 ITU cases barra l kazijiet tal ITU li diga hemm. Kemm tahseb li fijha bed capacity l ITU? Kemm tahseb li hemm nurses specjalizzati li jistaw jahdmu L ITU?
Nassigurak li kapaci nihhediljaw emergenzi serrah mohhom. Il problema li jekk barra dawn l 14 li gew, il pazjenti li diga jiffulaw l isptar sa ruh ommu jinqala xi haga ohra go dan il pajjiz li jirrikjedi aktar pazjenti li jkollhom bzonn jidhlu l ITU ahna ma ghandiex biex nihhendiljawha ghax diga fully stretched.
Il problema mhux ta struttura! il problema ta manpower u ta facilitajiet ta kif niehdu hsieb pazzjenti hekk kritici.Int tahseb li l ITU nurses ifaqssu?
Major explosions kellna, major incidents kellna u DEJJEM ihandiljajnijhom tajjeb ....pero ma nistawx nihhendiljaw aktar min kemm nifilhu! Ahna nurses mhux robots!
Immaginak restaurant ta 50 ruh nipprovaw nitmaw 100 ruh fl istess hin! mhux chaos ikun hawn sur ganado?
Ray Buhagiar
Sep 22nd 2011, 18:03
Mr Borg, your argument is somehow confusing. In one sentence you say that we are equipped for local emergencies and the next you say that we do not have specialized nurses. We either can or we don't.
I believe that the emergency department have the staff and resources to handle any emergency be it local or otherwise. The amount and type of injuries would require different resources. In the case of libyan evacuees someone took a calculated decision that we have. At the word go, all professionals (except MUMN officials) were hands on deck.
Why now I wouldn't be surprised if MUMN president will be one day on the PL electoral ticket!!
P. Vincenti
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:24
It is sad that economics at times takes presidency over love and kindness towards others.
I understand the nurses union's concerns, however the need is indeed great and our response to step up to the challenge.
It always costs to do the right thing.
Maybe we can import temporary nurse and doctors form Me S Frontier to help take the pressure off our nurses and doctors?
Lawrence Attard
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:21
I empatise with both sides of the story, but some important issues are raised here.
1. The liberation of Libya is a worthy cause which, like most people in Malta, I fully support. However in all fairness, many of the wounded coming in are voluntary fighters who to a degree chose to be in that role, not like the Maltese patients who ended up in hospital due to some accident or unexpected medical circumstance. So the question is...WHO should wait on a stretcher in a corridor?
2. Mater Dei Hospital is a standing example of bad planning. Whoever planned the number of beds in our new hospital completely lacked foresight and should be perhaps relegated to carrying bedpans in hospital. I only hope he/she/they are not still in any position related to planning in our country. The number of beds in Mater Dei should be twice what it is today, to allow not only for comfortable running but also for contingency. Because the scariest part of all this is.... we are facing this crisis of bed space when only 14 additional cases to Mater Dei's norm have been brought in. So what would happen if a national disaster were to befall Malta and God forbid we would have hundreds of seriously injured pouring into our hospital? Please let us not fall into the usual Maltese trend of dealing with a problem only when it occurs, which of course ends up in total chaos and lot of useless finger-pointing by our ever opportunistic politicians, as if that ever solves anything. Dr Gonzi, Dr Muscat ,maybe before bickering like kids for a lolipop about trivial stuff , how about you each tell us what you propose to do about expanding hospital space in Malta? As a concerned citizen and a voter, that interests me much more than knowing who of you knew the big bad man the most, or any of the other petty stuff you clutter up our news with.
C. Spiteri
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:14
Or perhaps our consultants and nurses should change their operating procedures e.g working in the afternoon and performing more day cases rather than occupying needless bed days!
Ray Buhagiar
Sep 22nd 2011, 18:07
Very well said C.Spiteri. Trade Unions would certainly endorse your suggestion.
One other observation is why on Sundays there is no shortage of staff?
Joseph Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:20
Tajjeb li nghinu lill proxxmu hadd ma hu qed jghid kontra. Pero jiena ha nitkellem bhala nurse u mhux bhala wiehed li noqghod wara il kompjuter imaqqdar minghajr ma nafx x ikun qed jigri u ma jigrix.
nahseb jew Mario Debono jghix fil qamar jew inkella ma jafx x hini is sitwazzjoni il Mater Dei.
6 pazjenti MALTIN inqallaw mil ITU u qeghdnijhom fir recovery tal operating theatre biex dahhalna 6 libjani minflokhom. ZGUR li ghalkhemm hemm l apparat fit teatri mhuwiex post attrezzat li jzomm ITU cases hemm.
Nuqqas ta sodod huwa stat ta fatt u hadd ma jista jinnegah. Min jinnega dan il fatt nitolbu jigi jqatta jumejn l emergenza u jara min xhiex nghaddu in nurses biex jirnexxielna nsibu soddha lill pazjent.
Hafna nies mod specjali anzjani jispiccaw iqattaw hafna hin fuq stretcher go nofs kuritur minghajr privatezza ta xejn ghax kulhadd diehel u hiereg min quddiemek. Dan kollu sakhemm insibu soddha.
Jekk ghal Mario Debono 14 il pazjent ma huma xejn, jekk tikkunsidrha li huma kollha jew kwazi ITU cases ghalina huma hafna.
Jiena taf x nistaqsieh lill Mario Debono u nispera li jaghmel mnaqra ricerka u jara l affarijiet sew qabel jigi jmaqdar u jirrispondi li ha nsaqsieh.
1) Jaf li suppost sptar qatt ma jkun mimli to its full capacity habba li jekk jinqala xi emergenza kbira fil pajjiz suppost ikollok post fejn iddahhal il pazjenti u ahna diga sptar 24/7 mimli daqs bajda?
2) Jekk allahares qatt tinqala emergenza go pajjizna li tinvolvi 6-7 ITU cases. Xejn impossibli u xejn ta barra min hawn..... x ser naghmlu?
qed nilghabu roulette game nassumu li Malta ma hu ser jinqala xejn? Ghanda pjan l amministrazzjoni jekk jigri xi haga simili?
3) Min fejn qed ingibu n nies biex jikkuraw ITU cases barra il full capacity (li kwazi dejjem tkun hekk fl ITU) wara li zidnilhom il pazjenti fir recovery area ta tejatri? Min qed jiehu hsiebhom bhalissa , kulhadd huwa kompetenti jiehu hsieb ITU case? (Nisperaw ma jigix xi bravu jghid li la nurse tahdem kullikien ghax ikun veru qed jghix dinja ohra)
4) Huwa veru li tant din id-decizzjoni ittiehdet b disprazzjoni u minghajr konsulta ta xejn u minghajr ma raw il konsegwenzi ...spiccajna ncemplu lill KULL ex haddiem tal ITU nitkarbulu biex jigi jahdem l -overtime Mater Dei ? over and above ix xoghol li qed jaghmlu fid dipartimenti rispettivi taghhom?
5) tista thaddem sptar/ITU/emergenza billi tiddependi fuq L-overtime? meta hafna nurses jahdmu shift, 40 jew 46hrs fil gimgha? taf li l overtime mhux obligattorju?
6) Huwa stat ta fatt li hemm nuqqas ta nurses fl isptarijiet taghna (fil fatt gibna nies min barra) ....tahsbu li huwa safe li nurse li diga jahdem duties ta 12hrs straight jahdem hafna sighat extra? Ma tahsibx li dan igibhek aktar prone ta zbalji specjalment meta qed inmexxu swali b inqas nurses milli suppost?
Kif ghedt , min wara kompjuter facli tmaqdar u tghid l l l istatement tal MUMN huwa shameful pero fi sahha mhux kwistjoni ta numri, kwistjoni ta kemm taghti servizz accettabli.
Diga hija stressful ghal hafna pazjenti u relatives li jqattaw hafna hin l emergenza jistennew ghal soddha.....allura tajjeb li biex nghinu lill haddiehor inkomplu nhallu lill pazjenti taghna jbghatu u jiehdu kura second class go sptar State of the Art??? Sptar state of the are ma jghamlux il bini imma is-servizz li jinghata u jiena sincerament ma nhossnix li nista naghmel dan minhabba mismanagement u dizorganizzazjoni li hemm il Mater Dei.
Possibli hawn miljun pajjiz iehor u bilfors ahna kellna niehdu dawn il pazzjenti? ma hemm l ebda pajjiz iehor min 300pajjiz li hawn madwar id dinja li seta jakkomoda dawn il pazjenti minghajr ma joholqu problemi ghan nies lokali?
Jiena kieku hemm il facilitajiet u il post jiena more than willing li nghin pero tiprettendux li ghanda nigu mafusa ahna in nurses u stretcjati u ahna ha nghidu thank you. Jiena l interess tieghi li naqdi lill pazjent u meta ma nkunx nista naghmel dan kif suppost inhossni li qed nonqos min dmiri u jgi9bni aktar suggett ghal zbalji.
Joe Galea
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:55
Nikwota "Possibli hawn miljun pajjiz iehor u bilfors ahna kellna niehdu dawn il-pazzjenti?"
Din hija wahda mir-ragunijiet validi li Malta giet accetata membru fl-unijoni europeja. L-europa rat kif ghamlet biex accetat lil Malta b'tali mod li tidher li qiegheda taghmlilna pjacir ,meta fil-fatt accetatna biex dak li politikament ma jigenerax flus ghalija ,twadbu ghawn Malta, peress li ahna poplu maghruf ghal karita u xejn izjed.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110919/local/Libya-can-benefit-from-Malta.385297
Ronald Sultana
Sep 23rd 2011, 14:32
Prosit Sur Borg naqbel mal kummenti tieghek,jien ma nifem xein fil-profesjoni tieghek imma nistghu b-xi mod nuzaw l-isptar ta St Luke's halli nkunu nistaw nakkomodaw lill-hutna libjani? wara kollox dawn proxmu wkoll.
Mr Joseph Scicluna
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:12
Looks like not many of you commentators have spent a few hours in the A&E waiting area, then another few inside the A&E then another few on a stretcher and so on....
Mr Tony Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:03
Who are these aid foundation members?
Whom do they represent?
Charity begins at HOME.
How do you expect that Maltese patients who have been paying taxes all their lives to wait for years for an operation and be kept in corridors in a state of the fart hospital to make way for foreigners?
Yes, help them as much as we can, but not at the expense of Maltese patients.
Ms Maria Vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:59
Let us stop being all politically correct and call a spade a spade!
Mr. Pace did not beat around the bush and stated the situation as it is. We have enough Maltese patients (who pay taxes and contribute towards the running of this hospital) waiting for treatment, in corridors or at home, or even worse sent home because of lack of space but we find place and resources to treat foreigners.
Whilst my sympathies go towards the injured Libyans, charity should begin at home!
Mr Julian Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:55
Welcome to Christian Malta!!!
Thomas Armatys
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:24
Are you expecting Our Lord to come down from Heaven and multiply the hospital beds and staff like He did with the fish and bread?
Thomas Armatys
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:48
Let us ignore all the comments about "our taxes paying for foreigners" and waiting lists. The former are inappropriate since we are talking about people in critical condition. The latter are out of place since these patients need immediate treatment for life-threatening injuries and not elective surgery. This leaves the real problem. These patients need care at the Intensive Therapy Unit where places are very limited. They need ventilators, monitors, specialized staff, etc. You can't just put them on a stretcher in a corridor and hope for the best. It would appear that the Theater Recovery Area has been converted into a makeshift ITU to be able to treat more patients. However even like this the resources are stretched to breaking point. It is simple impossible to treat more critical patients beyond a certain number. What will happen then? Who will decide which patients will be left to die? What will happen if today there is a major accident in Malta with a dozen critical patients? Where will they be treated? MUMN is not being selfish but realistic. Before offering help one should always make sure that he is able to help in the first place.
Ms P.M Graham
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:37
"What will happen if today there is a major accident in Malta with a dozen critical patients"?
What would happen?
Seems to me that this should have been thought about when building Mater Dei, which is obviously not able to cope. St Lukes needs to be brought up to standard and full working capacity asap instead of spending money on Theaters and Parliamentary Buildings,
What WOULD happen if there was a major catastrophe in Malta is that patients would be transported to other Countries who would hopefully offer assistance.
Mr James Rizzo
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:47
L-MUMN zelqet naqra b'din.....imma zball kulhadd jaghmlu.
Paul Micallef
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:26
Ahseb u ara int kemm zlaqt iktar sur Rizzo
Monisha James
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:45
Dear Mario Debono ....if you want really help Libyan people why cant you call some foreign nurses as volunteers for 4 to 6 months ,,i think Malta cant afford more patients form Libya ,,i am nurse ready to help you also i can arrange 20 to 25 nurses as volunteers
Charles Sammut
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:41
Mr Paul's Pace's words could have been chosen more carefully, but in essence he is right. Overloading the system will result is neither local nor foreign patients getting the proper care they need. You cannot give what you do not have.
Charity does not mean depriving your own people to provide for others and ending up short-changing both. That's not charity, that's stupidity.
Monisha James
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:37
Dear Mario Debono,,,if you want really help Libyan people why cant you call some foreign nurses as volunteers for 4 to 6 months ,,i think Malta cant afford more patients form Libya ,,i am nurse ready to help you also i can arrange 20 to 25 nurses as volunteers
Mr John J Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:35
Mario Debono, one of the founders of the Malta-based NGO I-Go Aid, which is involved in the operation, said Mr Pace had no shame. YES...TO TELL THE TRUTH HOW THINGS REALLY ARE AT MATER DEI
Mr Lawrence Fenech
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:29
Pawl, zlaqt wahda sew fin-nixef. Malta ghandha storja twila ta' hniena ghall kullhadd.
Paul Micallef
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:27
Ghalhekk tizloq fin niexef mela Malta, ghax bhalek!
clive borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:28
The I-Go Aid Foundation should find other hospitals where they go for treatment, cos while we are giving help to others our local patients are waiting for their chance to get a treatment from our own hospital, being paid from our own taxes...
M DEBONO
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:26
It seems that people don't know much about Mr. Debono. I urge people to digg further. He is one of the reasons there is a price war over medicines in this country... and his actions are threatening a lot of jobs in the Pharma industry. I agree with Anthony Pace's comments 'Charity begins at home'
M Sciberras
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:10
Vera tal misthija dawn il kummenti. This is what human charity is all about- helping others less fortunate and maybe suffering some pain in doing so! How can these commentators stoop to such callous selfishness? Is this a situation that happens all the time? These are people with terrible injuries and we are saying they should not be brought here if Maltese people with less urgent or serious health issues are temporarily placed in corridors or have their treatment delayed as a result? Is this really too much to ask? Shame! Isthu! U tinsewx tmorru l quddies nhar ta hadd, u xi festa ukoll, wara li tkunu ktibtu kummenti bhal dawn!
Tony Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:43
Does this plain truth hearts you in any way ??? He exposed the real situation at Mater Dei, Full Stop!!! Now if cannot fathom this truth, then i suggest you consult your political ally and see what he has to say.
M Sciberras
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:12
I have no political ally. I wish you no harm mate.... But I hope you won't be involved in an accident overseas, god forbid require the services of a hospital because of some emergency.... And are left on the street because the locals cannot be inconvenienced in any way.
Paul Micallef
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:34
Taf x inhu tal misthija sur Sciberras, li int ikollok xi haga gravi u tispicca tistenna s sieghat, bil konsegwenza li tista tmut biex ahna naghmluha tal insara u biex nidhru sbieh nghinu. Kieku grat xi mewta ghax ghamilna hekk tghid kont tpatpat fil vojt kif ghamilt?
Joseph Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:27
l argument tieghek ma jreggix M Sciberras.....jekk xi hadd WEGGHA GO PAJJIZA nikkurawh bla hsieb ta xejn......bhal ma jaghmlu KULL PAJJIZ civilizat iehor.
Dawn mhux pazjenti li weggaw go pajjizna u qed nirrifjutawhom! dawn pazjenti li weggaw go pajjiz iehor imma ghandhom bzonn kura aktar avanzzata li ahna ma gahndiex il kapacita li nistaw nofruwha u jista jofrijha haddiehor...thallatx il hass mal kabocci!
Ms Maria Vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:33
Yes we will go to Mass on sunday and pray for you, should, God forbid, you require emergency, life saving treatment and the ITU is full and there is nowhere to put you.
There is always a capacity limit in each hospital, and now with these casualties we have reached it, it seems
M Sciberras
Sep 22nd 2011, 12:11
Vera ma tisthux!!!! Unbelievable!!!
Joseph Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 13:12
Il problema SurSciberras li Diga qabel gew dawn in nies intefaw fil kurituri u mhux TEMPORARILY ghax gejjin dawn. DIGA is servizz tas sahha taghna overstretched...nahseb qed tghix go xi pajjiz iehor inkella jekk ma tafx dan....u ahna qed nivvintaw biex inkommplu naksuh. Issa l ahjar hu pacenzja ...ghamel naqra ricerka u ara min ghandek hbieb jew familjari li bhalissa rekoverati il Mater dei u filkas inmexxu lilhom go kuritur minghajr privatezza ta xejn u jekk ghandek xi relative l ITU inmexxuh go recovery unit tal operating theatre minflok. Hemm nara wmin hu l egojist imbghad Sur Sciberras!
Dawn il pazjenti ilna nafu li gejjin xi jumejn u ma kienx kaz ta emergenza so bhal ma gew hawn setghaw intbghatu go pajjiz fejn jista jiehu hsiebhom minghajr ma jkun ta detriment ghal pazjenti ta pajjizu!
U btw ...meta jkollok xi qarib li jghidulu ...isma ha jkollna nippostponulek l operazjoni ghax mhux urgenti , imbghad tarha kemm insiru selfish Scibberas! kollha kemm ahna...INKLUZ INT!
Mr M Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:08
Mill-kummenti li ghamel Paul Pace zewg affarijiet johorgu li jew qed jitkellem politikament dwar il-Libya jew inkella huwa bniedem li ma jafx x'inhija hniena. Nitolbu jaqra x'qal Kristu dwar l-ghajnuna li wihed jaghti lll habsin l-morda dawk fil- bzonn u ohrajn. Nistaqsih kieku inti kont wiehed min dawn l-imsejkna kont trid min jghinek habib. Ftit sagrificju f'dan il-mument hekk krucjali ghal dawn in-nies jiswa mitqlu deheb quddiem Alla. Kummenti zejda jista ikun ta dettirment ghal dawn il-matuba Habib.
silvio loporto
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:06
I wonder whether any activest of the I-Go Aid fondationhas ever had a member of his family,on the waiting list for the next 3 years,to have an operation.
Mr M Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:32
Jekk wiehed jijstenna ghal tlett snin sabiex isiru operazzjoni zgur li ghax ma tkunx urgenti. L-isptar jimxi b'sistema li l-ewwel li jigi operatat huwa dak li huwa l-aktar fil-bzonn. Ninsab certa li t-tobba taghna mhux irresponsabbli li se jhallu lil xi hadd jistenna biex jigi operat jekk ikun fi bzonn imminenti. Kull kumment negattiv dwar is-sahha jista jkollu agenda mohbija.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:09
Mr M Farrugia taf kif jimxi l-isptar ?
Staqsi lil min ilu jistenna u lil min inqeda malajr u jgħidulek li jekk ma jinvistakx xi professur privatament ma tantx għandek ċans li tinqeda.
Din bħal ta' SVPH fejn nies li għadhom b'saħħithom imma tal-qalba malajr sabu posthom hemmhekk ħalli jekk ikollhom bżomm imorru iktar tard ma jkollhomx joqgħodu jistennew waqt li dawk l-eluf li tassew għandhom bżonn jidħlu għax ma jifilħux u mgħndhomx min idur bihom baqgħu barra.
Dak li għandek tgħid sur Mr M Farrugia
Andrew Azzopardi
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:04
This is so so sad - and coming from the Nurse and Midwives union!!!!
http://andrewazzopardi.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/malta-union-of-midwives-and-nurses-mumn-u-l-libjani/
Mr M Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2011, 09:49
Sur Camilleri jekk inti taf li dawn l-affarijiet qed jigru u taf min huma dawn il-professuri li trid tmur privat ghandhom sabiex titqabbez imissek bhal citadin onest ikollok il-kuragg u isemmi l-ismijiet tal-professur li jaghmel dan u l-pazjent halli l-kaz jigi investigat. Jekk mhux fuq dan il-blog nitolbok bhala cittadin onesta sabiex tikteb lil Ministru tas-sahha dwar dan. Jekk inti ma taghmilx hekk inti komplici f'dak li qed isir ghax taf li hemm korruzzjoni u mhux qed tigbed l-attenzjoni biex tigi investigata. Habib nappellalek tkun cittadin onest u tesponi dan il-kaz
Anthony Pace
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:01
These Libyan patients should have been accomodated in the private hospitals and paid for by the Libyan or Maltese goverments and not Mater Dei where locals are waiting for operations and treatment.
Mr john vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:01
Sur Mario Debono
I am a pensioner and my only income is my pension after a life time of shift work. Each time I go to buy anything I get the VAT (value ADDED TAX) receipt, that equal to direct tax. Last time I was in hospital I need hours of waiting before I got a bed (diagnosed with a heart attack).
I saw there are rooms for the VIP'S and rooms for the inner circle. I know I was there.
Considering that my pensions goes towards buying medicine, food and tax for the service that I received what is your contribution to the community?
Enough is enough! Charity begin at home and what I see is we the Maltese locals and the especially the old, we need assistance are you available?
Mr M Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:10
kumment banali mibni fuq sentimenti politici. Dan ghamel akkuzi serji li ghandhom jigu investigati mill-ministeru tas-Sahha.
Mr john vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:20
Sur M Farrugia
If we both live on the same island and we both have been to the same hospital please take the liberty to refer and write where in my writeup there is allegation and not truth.
This is ridiculous if someone say the truth he is labeled political
C. Spiteri
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:31
It is no secret that for security purposes, there is a small part of Mater Dei that can be turned into a VIP ward if need be, but to say that there are VIP rooms and speak of the inner circle, when Mater Dei has as a maximum 4 bedded rooms, with few two bedded and even fewer one bedded (usually used for potentially infectious cases) is to say the least exaggerated.
If you really had a heart attack, you would have ended in the cardiac care unit, in a short time, full of monitors and almost a one to one care. If one the otherhand, as I suspect, you turned up at hospital with a chest pain that required examination and testing, you would have been placed in either a four bedded or two bedded ward, on a comfortable bed, personal TV, phone and internet connection and a menu - passed a number days, have around 2000 Euros worth of blood and other tests, been discharged with a diagnosis (otherwise you wold not be able to write here) and at what personal cost - ZERO euro!
At least you are admitting that VAT receipts are being issued from most shops - this is a good thing as it usually means that those that earn a lot, spend a lot and thus pay a lot of tax, not as usually happens with income tax, where those that earn a lot usually pay the least as they are able to hide their earnings.
As for your claim of where your pension goes - well if it just goes for medicine and food, then you are not paying any VAT (these are at 0% VAT) - so at least you must be buying something else - and if this is so, then you are not much different from the rest of us as our pays usually goes for food, bills, medicine and something else.
Mr M Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:52
Sur vella nofs verita jew inkella tawwig tal-verita aghar minn gidba. nahseb li r-risposta diga giet moghtija mis-sur spiteri u ma hemmx ghalfejn nirrispondi jiena ukoll. Jekk wiehed jitfa kumment minghajr ma juri l-fatti kollha hija prova bizzejjed ta agenda mohbija.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:14
Mr M Farrugia l-akkużi li għamel Mr john vella kulħadd jaf bihom.
Jekk ma tafx qed tgħix fuq il-Qamar.
Is-Sur John Vella nesa jgħidlek ukoll li l-Gvern kien għolla l-VAT b'20%, iva 20 fil-mija biex taparsi tagħmel tajjeb għas-saħħa u l-Mater Dejn.
Dak li għandek tgħid sur Debono u mhux għax ma taqbilx ma dak li jgħid ħaddieħor tgħid li hija politika.
Dik hija l-verita' tgħoġbok u ma togħġbokx.
Mr john vella
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:47
Sur Spiteri
Thanks for your posting, I will not doubt your accuracy. However to clarify my case. I went to the Floriana Polyclinic and they call an ambulance. At Mater Dei the human factor was just beyond expectation. The tests I had I can not count, why they put me in a ward that I can not explain or reason, but those are the facts.
As for the VIP and the inner circle rooms, I experienced another time that I need tests in St. Lukes for the same problem and unfortunately I laid on a stretcher in a ward next to a VIP room when this light went on, all hell got loose if I called it was another story. If need be I mention names!
Are you implying that there is no VIP rooms in this new hospital?
As for the VAT I pay VAT on the phone bills as an example. No Mr. Spiteri it is not easy to make ends meet with our pension and no I do not go out because I can not afford it.
Mr marco caruana
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:00
Dear Mr . Debono ...
this morning my dear father have been told that he have to wait at least 5 yrs for a knee replacement op !
by next week he can do it if he forks out €7000 or so ......
so pls stop this bull**** talk about making Malta proud !
bryan sullivan
Sep 22nd 2011, 10:20
dear mr. caruana, i sincerely hope that your father will get his knee replacement operation sooner than the five years indicated which is far too long to wait if urgently required. it is however good to know that a 7000 euro operation is being provided for 0 euro cost at Mater Dei Hospital.
Mr Tony Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:09
Wrong bryan sullivan.
Mr Caruana and the rest of us pay taxes all our lives for the health service including having had VAT increased by 20% to make good foe the health service and Mater Dejn.
It's like paying your car insurance. You pay every year in the hope that if you have an accident your insurance will pay your claim. You may never need your insurance and good luck to you, but you cannot say that you did not pay to repair your or the other person's vehicle because you did not pay when you had the accident because you had paid your insurance premium for so may years.
So please stop this nonsense that we have free health care and free hospitals.
Mr Andrew Azzopardi
Sep 22nd 2011, 11:16
@ Bryan Sullivan
Correction - operations are not at 'zero cost', especially for an elderly gentleman who would have been paying taxes for some three quarters of a century.
Mr R ferriggi
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:58
i also found his comments shocking.
we always have to say : imagine myself in those poor people's boots.
let alone being catholic OBLIGES one to help,,,,, no excuses.....>!!!!
Mr Paul Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:55
Re:"Shameful"
Shameful is when you take your 84 year old father to Emergency Department at Mater Dei and spend 23 hours over there waiting for a bed.
j brincat
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:48
Charity begins at home Mr Debono.
(jb)
C. Spiteri
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:48
Instead of being your narcissistic self, why don't you go to Sirte to give a hand there? You can also take a couple of your avid supporters, trouble makers and lazy individuals that surround you!
Paul Gauci
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:46
ITU was full-up prior the arrival of the Libyan patients. 6 Libyan patients were sent to ITU. The Maltese patients were relocated to the theatre recoveries. Is this the way how we put the patients' interests first?
Anthony Borg
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:39
Suddenly, we have become the saviour of the whole Middle East... illegal immigrants who take to unsafe boats and now war casualties... all this in a 9 x 5 mile Island, already heavily over-populated, in a hospital that was designed too small to accommodate our local needs.
Can the government be responsible and plan ahead?
What if there are more of these ill-fated people from war-torn countries?
If you haven’t noticed, there is a war raging on every day somewhere!
“Say thank you to the nice Maltese PM.....”
Joe Gatt
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:39
`In fact countries such as the US have huge hospital ships which can take up more than 900 patients and are even better equipped than Mater Dei Hospital.”
`The union said it would support nurses who refused to nurse patients in corridors as if they were working in third world countries`.
Sounds like time runs backwards in Malta?
Our Country badly needs at least one of these ships, just to be able to handle the Normal Situation on the Islands, this is in addition to Mater Dei.
Is it time to reactivate St Lukes as an Emergency Hospital?
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:33
MUMN should truly be ashamed before the whole world for not wanting these foreign Libyan patients. Shame on y ou and I hope you will apologize to these foreign patients and to the people of Malta to earn any remaining honour you might have had. You are really shaming us together with your union before our people and the world. We know that our hospital is what it is but some charity is not out of this world. If only your members do their duties, they are paid to do by our taxes, life at the hospital will not be the hell you want us to imagine it is. Just do your work and that's all.
Carmel Cilia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:02
Mr. Buhagiar if it were't for the diligence of all the medical staff at mater Dei we would be having 15 death out of every fifty cases even here in Malta. Do you imagine an eighty plus patient having to spend two days in a stretcher after being accepted at this Hospital. Now we have come to the stage were a Union cannot speak because it is accused of political motives. Malta demokratika sabih,
r buttigieg
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:36
lets just hope that when the time comes for you to care for an elderly relative you put your money where your mouth is and not dump him/her on the tax payers. talk is cheap as always, as long as you don t pay
Paul Gauci
Sep 22nd 2011, 08:29
“Is it possible that in a hospital like ours we can’t take care of 14 patients at this critical moment? You have to be here to realise how bad the situation is. For every 50 injured people we see 15 dead,”
No we cannot Mr. Debono. Prove of this is the fact that 6 Maltese patients were transferred from ITU and sent to the theatre recovery in order to make space for the 6 Libyan patients who needed ITU care. Its good to help however not to the detriment of other patients.
Mr M Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2011, 09:20
Sur Gauci il-mod kif ktibt jekk dak li qed tghid huwa minnu l-istat ta' Malta ghamel min kollox sabiex jghin lil kulhadd minghajr ma jbaghti hadd. Nahseb li t-tobba u l-professuri taghna jafu x'qed jaghmlu u barra li huma b'qalb li taf thenn mhux imginen zgur. Infakkrek li fejn tidhol ghajnuna ma hemmx religjon kulur twemmin razza jew kultura. kummenti bhal tieghek u hafna ohra f'dan il-blog kull ma qed jaghmlu huwa li tinholoq klima ta mibeda kontra dawk li kien hawn zmien li konna inzejhuhom "blood brothers" ghax hekk kien hemm bzonn ghal ragunijiet mhux umanitarji dak iz-zmien.
Paul Gauci
Sep 23rd 2011, 03:07
"Nahseb li t-tobba u l-professuri taghna jafu x'qed jaghmlu u barra li huma b'qalb li taf thenn mhux imginen zgur. "
U int min qallek li d-decizjoni li tintuza r-recovery tat-theatres thalliet f'idejn il-professjonisti?