(Adds government's reply)
The Opposition today noted with concern how the acting CEO of Mater Dei Hospital admitted that the hospital has never been in such a disastrous situation prior to today.
Shadow minister Claudette Buttigieg referred to comments given to the Times of Malta by Joseph Zarb Adami saying he admittied that, for the first time since the Libyan evacuation crisis in February 2011, the management had to use the day surgery recovery area to care for patients with different medical conditions and possible infectious diseases.
“Until today, this was a medically segregated area, restricted to a limited number of staff members,” Ms Buttigieg said.
She said the Opposition reitirated that wrong decisions taken by the management, including the CEO, were not only negatively affecting the service given to patients, but were also creating tension on employees.
“It is very unfair that hospital employees are faced with unnecessary pressure which can leave very negative impact at the expense of the patients and their recovery outcomes.
“Konrad Mizzi (the minister) and Chris Fearne (the parliamentary secretary) cannot sit back and let our national hospital deteriorate into such a situation as confirmed in today’s papers. People are asking whether the much promised roadmap is not a sad illusion. Patients and their family members, together with our much dedicated professional medical staff deserve honest replies and not just rhetoric,” she said.
Government's reply
In a reply, the government said that 300 beds are to be added to Mater Dei for the hospital to meet the needs of Maltese and Gozitan families.
The government’s plan with new investment in the health sector was the best way to address the problems left behind by the previous administration which built a smaller hospital than the country had had, creating long waiting lists and was the cause for a long list of out of stock medicines.
The new building adjacent to the Emergency Department was in its final stages and this would lead to an increase in 68 beds. This building is expected to receive its first patients by December.
The government would then implement the necessary work for the building to expand.
It was also looking to private investment to further increase beds.