So far this year, the government has already bought 145 beds as part of a public-private partnership scheme to accommodate elderly people needing long-term care.
A spokesman for the Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing said the government was in the process of buying further places in private and Church residential homes in a bid to tackle the shortage of such beds.
The Medical Association of Malta recently said that 140 elderly patients were blocking 60 per cent of acute medical care beds at Mater Dei Hospital. These were mainly social cases, the doctors’ union said, criticising the government’s “lack of planning and investment in the geriatric sector”.
Mater Dei is experiencing an “unprecedented” overcrowding situation, with acting CEO Joseph Zarb Adami saying last week the hospital was forced to house patients in the day surgery recovery area.
The strategic approach is yielding encouraging results, with a decrease of12.8 per cent in the current waiting list
In 2013, then parliamentary secretary Franco Mercieca said the government was looking into sourcing accommodation for 200 patients staying at Mater Dei and Karin Grech hospitals, which would translate into a saving of €6 million a year. An average of 160 beds were made available each year, when more like 300 were needed, Dr Mercieca said.
Asked about what short-term and long-term solutions the government was looking at, the spokesman said the short-term plan was being implemented via ongoing PPP schemes with the bedding capacity increasing substantially over the last year.
This was being complemented by major infrastructural works in government homes, both to upgrade the premises and to increase capacity, he said. A project was being implemented at the Mtarfa home to add 25 beds.
On a long-term basis, the government would further collaborate with the private sector and enhance community services to ensure that the elderly were served in the community for as long as possible in a holistic manner, the spokesman added.
“After tackling the inherited situation of out-of-stock medicines, this administration is working to reduce the accumulated waiting lists by directing the private sector to cater for the existing demand.
“The strategic approach by the government is yielding encouraging results, with a decrease of 12.8 per cent in the current waiting list and a 61.5 per cent drop in pending assessments,” he said.
The Department for the Elderly and Community Care has agreements with these Church and private homes:
Villa Messina (Rabat)
Casa Arkati (Mosta)
Central Home (Mosta)
Casa Serena (Buġibba)
Casa Leone (St Julian’s)
Dar Sant’Anna (Senglea)
Dar Saura (Rabat)
Casa San Paolo (Buġibba)
Roseville (Attard)
Villa San Lawrenz (San Lawrenz)