The Government will continue to invest in private-public partnerships in the provision of elderly services, which it deems a success story.

During a visit to Zammit Clapp Hospital – which has been converted into a nursing home – Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the sector had been developed into a full-blown economic area employing about 3,000 people with many others providing ancillary services.

He said that this was a win-win situation, for the elderly, who were getting a superior service, and for the economy.

Dr Gonzi pointed out that, over the past five years, the Government had increased the number of beds at its homes for the elderly by 1,000 and was renting the daily service of 450 beds in the private sector. He said there were 4,000 beds available to the elderly, with almost 2,300 in State-run homes.

Zammit Clapp Hospital will soon be increasing bed capacity by 33 through an investment of €2 million while other upgrades are coming on stream in the Żejtun and Mellieħa homes for the elderly.

Care Malta CEO Nathalie Briffa Farrugia said the industry was proving to be a magnet for female employment. Of the 700 workers on the company’s payroll, 600 were women.