An elderly man was the second person to die in a Mater Dei Hospital corridor in a matter of days after suffering a fatal heart attack yesterday morning but health authorities are denying claims of negligence.

The 83-year-old’s death, which followed a similar incident where an old woman died in a similar way last week, prompted a furious parliamentary debate between a number of MPs last night.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil questioned whether it was “acceptable” for a patient to die “without dignity” in a corridor as opposed to a medical ward.

In a lengthy reply, Health Minister Konrad Mizzi invited Dr Busuttil to call for an inquiry to look into the matter if he believed there was negligence, adding that the Opposition could appoint a person of trust to sit on the board.

Dr Busuttil, however, did not acknowledge the invitation and instead reiterated that a hospital corridor was no place for a patient to die in this day and age.

Dr Mizzi extended his condolences to the grieving families and assured them that all the necessary steps had been taken to try and save their loved ones.

“Unfortunately, people die in hospital every day and this is a reality. But the information I have received so far is that the patients received all possible care,” he said.

Nationalist shadow health spokeswoman Claudette Buttigieg claimed last week that an 83-year-old woman had died in a hospital corridor because the necessary equipment to save her life was not available.

Her claim was denied by Mater Dei CEO Ivan Falzon, who said that although the corridor was not as comfortable as a normal ward, it was modified to be able to take patients and had all the equipment needed.

Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne issued a statement quashing Ms Buttigieg’s claims and quoting relatives of the deceased saying hospital staff had done their utmost to save the woman’s life using the necessary equipment.

Contacted for a reaction on the latest death, the president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, Paul Pace, raised concerns that cardiac arrest response times were significantly impaired in corridors.

“In a ward there are specific channels to contact a response team in the case of cardiac arrest. But these do not exist in a corridor,” he said.

Mr Pace said he had received complaints from members that response times were slower in corridors than in wards, however he made it clear that he was not claiming this was the case in this latest incident.

He added that medical staff working in a corridor were often on overtime or consisted of relief staff and would change from day to day. This, he said, also had a bearing on the situation.

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