Some 80 per cent of the people who sought assistance at the Health Awareness Clinic in Mtarfa had weight problems, nurse Rebecca Cachia Fearne said this morning.

Ms Cachia Fearne was speaking at a conference today, held by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses about current challenges in the primary health sector.

She said that the clinic helped these people adopt an active role and are  given guidance about local health services.

At the clinic nurses hold assessment sessions with the patients, who might then be referred for medical or psychological help. Ms Cachia Fearne said that three quarters of deaths worldwide are caused by chronic diseases.

Nursing Officer Sharon Martinelli also spoke on the importance of the patient’s role during treatment and recovery.

It was important for healthcare professionals to listen to the patients and be sensitive. Sometimes patients are given a lot of information which is difficult to absorb if they are going through some form of trauma.

E&A Nurse Paul Calleja questioned whether there was enough education about discharge planning and community care. Patients were often discharged quickly because of the high demand of beds, and would feel at a loss if they were not informed about existing recovery services.

He suggested the introduction of Community Liaison Nurses that would accompany the patient on his journey from admission to post-discharge and make sure that patients and their relatives had a clear understanding of the required care and treatment.

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