The Government is looking to provide more facilities for elderly people needing long-term care in a bid to tackle the shortage of hospital beds.

It yesterday issued a call for expressions of interest in the provision of such facilities.

Addressing a press conference outside the home for the elderly in Cospicua, Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Franco Mercieca said sourcing accommodation for 200 patients staying at the Mater Dei and Karin Grech hospitals would translate into a saving of €6 million a year.

An average of 160 beds were made available to these patients each year, when more like 300 were needed.

The call for expressions of interest will not be bound by time frames, costs or numbers as the Government aims to plan for future years to avoid “management by crisis”.

Mr Mercieca added that the previous administration first waited for beds to be blocked then rushed to find a solution.

This resulted in the “ambiguous situation” where patients were moved to private elderly homes alongside paying residents.

The private sector, he said, had already expressed interest in providing long-term care facilities for the elderly, with proposals including public-private partnerships, the building of new homes and the conversion of existing hotels.

The Government had also reviewed the way beds are being allocated.

In the past, the system involved the admission board that relied on patient assessments drawn up by social workers.

The new system is designed to be more patient-oriented, with the elderly person submitting himself as an outpatient at Karin Grech hospital and he is directly analysed by a multidisciplinary team that includes geriatricians.

The choice of residence, Dr Mercieca continued, would no longer be made solely by the patients, although they would retain a say to ensure that the best possible option is provided to them.

In the past there had been a lot of pressure on residences such as St Vincent de Paul, where beds between cost twice as much as those of other homes.

Dr Mercieca explained that St Vincent de Paul was more suitable for patients who were highly dependent on carers.

He also referred to Mount Carmel Hospital where three unused wards were converted into an elderly home.

This resulted in anomalies related to administration, nursing and medical care, he said.

Cost of caring

• Mater Dei Hospital: €200 per person per day. There are currently 80-90 elderly patients receiving long-term care at this hospital.

• Karin Grech Hospital: €140 per person per day, with 120 elderly patients receiving long-term care there.

• Government residential homes: €45-55 per person per day

• Public-private partnership residences: €25-35 per person per day