Mintoff responds to treatment but still critical

Dom Mintoff continues to respond to treatment but re­mains critical in intensive care.

In a medical update, the government said he was being managed by a multidisciplinary team of intensive care physicians, nurses, cardiologists and respiratory physicians.

The former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader, soon to be 96, was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after suffering from a chest infection.

He has been receiving treatment to remove fluid accumulated in his lungs and was responding. “While he has registered some improvement, his condition remains critical,” the government said.

Mr Mintoff’s daughter, Yana Mintoff Bland, said on Thursday that the family remained hopeful.

In February, Mr Mintoff spent nine days in hospital suffering from a severe chest infection and heart failure. He had been admitted to hospital in Gozo last October suffering from pneumonia.