The Gozo Ministry has defended the state of hygiene at the island’s hospital, pointing out that concerns raised recently are being addressed through ongoing refurbishment.

One operating theatre will be fitted with a special ventilation system

Among other things, the ministry said that one of the hospital’s operating theatres would be fitted with a specialised ventilation system, known as laminar flow, that helps avoid the risk of post-op infection.

Gozitan ophthalmologist and Labour Party candidate Franco Mercieca over the weekend referred to the lack of this air-exchange system and the resulting poor hygiene standards at the Gozo General Hospital, describing the situation as unacceptable.

The ministry said €3.25 million refurbishment works underway, co-financed by the EU, included the installation of full laminar flow system in one operating theatre and a modern fresh-air system in another.

Dr Mercieca charged that the refurbishment of the theatres should have been completed two years ago. The ministry did not explain why this did not happen and neither did it give time frames for the completion of projects in hand.

It justified the delay indirectly by pointing out that work on the hospital had to be coordinated in conjunction with the day-to-day services offered there.

It used as an example of good practice, the “smooth” transition at the Radiology Department, which was overhauled without any interruptions – not even for a single day.

With regard to the shabby state of the building and its interiors, the ministry said a tendering process was underway for extensive refurbishment of the corridors.