The General Workers’ Union yesterday welcomed the government’s decision to close down and rebuild the “appalling” kitchen at the State’s biggest home for the elderly.

It had been drawing attention to the dangerous structural state of St Vincent de Paul residence’s kitchen since the previous administration was in power.

The union was in discussions with the home’s chief executive to ensure kitchen staff were relocated to other positions.

On Tuesday Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly Justyne Caruana announced that the kitchen – which used to prepare more than 2,500 meals a day for over 1,300 residents – would be closed down that very day.

Cabinet approved her decision, which she took after environmental health directorate inspectors found the place in an “appalling state” in May.

As an interim measure Dr Caruana sought approval from the contracts committee to issue a direct order to Health Care Services, which supplies food to Mater Dei Hospital.