St Luke’s Hospital’s former day care unit has been turned into a “temporary” ward and will be housing 17 long-term patients transferred from Karin Grech.

This will free up beds from Mater Dei Hospital occupied by patients who have been waiting for treatment at the rehabilitation hospital, the Health Ministry said.

It issued a statement in reaction to media reports that a number of beds were being transferred from St Philip’s Hospital in Santa Venera to St Luke’s.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday did not deny that beds from St Philip’s Hospital, which closed down two years ago due to financial difficulties, were being moved to the former acute hospital to create two new wards.

It’s possible but I cannot vouch for that

“We are analysing and reviewing a number of agreements and looking at different options. This is being done in the context of a holistic plan the government intends to announce in a press conference in the coming days,” he said.

But St Philip’s owner, Frank Portelli, a former Nationalist Party president, denied his company had struck any agreement with the government.

He seemed to find it difficult to explain why beds from his property were being transferred elsewhere, insisting there was no agreement covering this. “Now, if there’s going to be an agreement in a month or so I do not know but at the moment there is no agreement,” he said.

Pressed further, Dr Portelli admitted that St Philip’s was “in commercial discussions” to be leased to a private company. However, he refused to elaborate, citing commercial sensitivity. He also refused to explain whether it was just discussions or whether a commercial agreement had been reached. When asked whether this company could have reached an agreement to lease some beds, Dr Portelli replied: “It’s possible but I cannot vouch for that.”

PN health spokesman Claudio Grech said that if such a decision was taken he would expect to be consulted. “In a spirit of consensus, I would have expected some form of consultation with the Opposition, given that certain wards at a hospital that has been closed will be reopened.

“I don’t know whether there was consultation with the unions. I am not saying we should shoot down the plan but this is not the way decisions are taken,” he said.

The Health Ministry did not explain where the beds came from and neither did it reply to questions by this newspaper.

The ministry confirmed that the area above the physiotherapy department that used to be the day care unit had been upgraded and 17 long-term patients would be transferred there from Karin Grech rehabilitation centre. This centre will, in turn, receive 17 patients from Mater Dei who have been waiting for rehabilitation services, freeing up space at the national hospital.

Last month, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia did not rule out transferring patients to St Luke’s, which was closed when Mater Dei opened in 2008.