Patients with spinal cord injuries feel the rehabilitation offered in Malta is not specialised enough to help them cope with life after a devastating accident.

We feel a bit abandoned by the medical authorities

“We don’t have specialised people in the field. When you sustain a spinal cord injury you also need to work on the psychological aspect and be told that life does not stop,” said Tonio Mercieca, who is paralysed from the chest down.

“We don’t have that in Malta… we feel a bit abandoned by the medical authorities.”

Mr Mercieca became a tetraplegic following a traffic accident in 1977, when he was 14. Back then there was an agreement between Malta and the UK and patients with spinal injuries were sent there for rehabilitation.

But over the years things changed and patients were no longer sent to the UK. The problem is the facilities in Malta are no match for UK treatment as there is a lack of specialisation.

The issue was raised by Clifford Portelli on Facebook. The 34-year-old has been on a wheelchair since he was 16, when he was hurt after jumping into the sea at Żonqor Point.

He believes patients should be sent to the UK.

In the past, Sir Paul Boffa hospital had a spinal unit and, although it had its limitations, there was an element of specialisation. This was closed down and spinal cord injuries are now treated at Karin Grech Hospital within the Neuro Rehabilitation Unit, which deals with various conditions. There was no patient consultation before the move, said Mr Portelli.

Mr Mercieca agreed that the NRU lacks the specialisation to deal with spinal cord injuries.

To start with, there are many elderly people in the unit and their attitude could be demoralising to patients fighting to find a will to live, he said.

“I don’t think they see us as feasible. In the UK they have one spinal cord injury per day… In Malta it’s one or two a year.”

A 23-year-old, who preferred not to be named, suffered a neck injury two years ago when he jumped into the sea from a high altitude. He was one of the first patients at Karen Grech.

“All in all I can’t grumble about the service in hospital. My operation was successful and the staff was very helpful,” he said.

“But I did feel that they were not specialised enough. A simple example was that they did not know what type of mattress I needed.

“I also felt the absence of a consultant who was specialised and whom I could address my questions to. Besides, I was kept with old people who refused to walk when they had functioning legs. It was tough.”

When he asked to go to the UK, he was told they would offer the same services.

Matthew Borg, 31, fought to be sent abroad for treatment and does not regret it. He damaged his spinal cord in a car accident in 2001 and after a month at St Luke’s Hospital he spent about three months at the spinal unit.

After that, on his insistence, he was sent to the UK for six months.

“The physiotherapists at Boffa were good and dedicated but they did not have the tools to work with. In the UK I was taught all I needed to learn to be independent. I don’t think I’d be where I am today had I not gone,” he said.

Shaun Grech, a disability studies researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University, said rehabilitation was a critical component in people’s lives.

“Clearly, the closure of the unit is impacting people with spinal injuries.

“What worries me most is the virtual absence of a disability movement in Malta, and the silence around critical themes such as this, and the inactivity.

“Unless disabled people come together in an organised and non-politically partisan way to put pressure on any government in power, these abuses are going to continue and disabled people will suffer indefinitely. This goes beyond rehabilitation,” he said, stressing on the importance of listening to patients’ voices.

A Health Ministry spokesman said transferring patients from Boffa to Karin Grech did not influence the nature and quality of the care provided.

Professionals who worked at the spinal unit were offered the opportunity to join the team at Karin Grech.

“A consultant specialised in rehabilitation leads the team caring for patients on the adult rehab ward at Karin Grech.

“The contribution of other consultants is offered when required,” the spokesman said, as he encouraged patients and their relatives to bring suggestions to the attention of authorities.