Lecturers and students within the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, located at Mater Dei Hospital, were startled to find notices informing them that seminar rooms could no longer be used for lectures from yesterday.

The notices read: “Please note that as from Monday 11th November 2013 this room will no longer be available as a seminar room. From this day this room forms part of Mater Dei Area of Operations.”

When Times of Malta asked the Health Ministry what was happening, a spokesman replied: “It was not the Ministry for Health’s direction and decision to put up the mentioned sign.” He said the minister had directed the hospital’s management to embark on a “space searching exercise” at the hospital and had also opened discussions with the University of Malta, under which the faculty falls.

The exercise aimed to identify spaces that could be used to host more patients, and address the bed shortage problem.

“It is intended that Mater Dei Hospital, which is also a teaching hospital, utilises the maximal space that can be made at Mater Dei Hospital for patients needing admission.

“No decision has been taken. Discussions have not been concluded,” the spokesman insisted.

When contacted the faculty dean, Professor Angela Xuereb Anastasi, said all she would like to say was that the situation had been resolved and the seminar rooms could be used for lecturing.

“All I would like to say is that we have had discussions with those concerned and the situation has been ironed out,” she said.

Nationalist Party health spokesman Claudio Grech said it was worrying to see that the hospital management was taking these decisions without the ministry’s go-ahead.

He said such decisions should not be taken without consulting the faculty and during the academic year.

“We all want more space at Mater Dei but you cannot rob Peter to pay Paul,” he said.