The Health Ministry has ordered an investigation after a 59-year-old British man escaped from Mount Carmel Hospital last week, this newspaper was told.

A spokeswoman said a board of inquiry was set up to look into the case.

Tom Stewart has been missing for more than a week.

Tom Stewart was voluntarily admitted to the hospital on May 18 and, while there, he had been under level one supervision, meaning he had to be accompanied by medical personnel at all times.

Mr Stewart escaped on Friday while walking in an internal garden with his wife, Phyllis. The man jumped on one of the trees and then ran away before hospital staff could stop him, Ms Stewart said.

Being in Mount Carmel did not help his situation. But I don’t believe he is of any danger to anyone

She said her husband had been struggling with bouts of depression as a result of the medication prescribed to him to control his diabetes. She told this newspaper yesterday that, while her husband did need help, she did not believe he had to be admitted to Mount Carmel and would have been better off at Mater Dei Hospital.

“He was very frustrated and that is why he escaped. Being in Mount Carmel did not help his situation. But I don’t believe he is of any danger to anyone,” she said, renewing appeals for anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward.

“It’s been over a week now and what worries me most is the fact that he does not have the medication he needs to treat his diabetes,” Ms Stewart said.

The police on Tuesday made a public appeal for information. Ms Stewart complained that, despite her repeated calls, the police had very little information to give her.

Questions sent to the police were not answered by the time of writing.

Patients receiving treatment at Mount Carmel, even those who do so voluntarily, need a doctor’s certificate to be discharged.

Anyone with information about Mr Stewart's whereabouts should contact the police on 2122 4001-9 or 119.

claire.caruana@timesofmalta.com