A call for expression of interest for the provision of spaces where elderly in need of long-term residential care can be housed was issued this afternoon by Franco Mercieca, the Parliamentary Secretary for Active Aging.

He said the call followed an analysis undertaken in the past months on how beds had been created and used in the past few years.

The parliamentary secretary said that an average of 160 beds were made available each year when 300 were needed to cater for the demand.

A bed at Mater Dei where there are currently 80 to 90 elderly patients receiving long-term care, cost €200 per person per day and, at Karin Grech, where there are 120 such patients, each bed cost €140 per person per day.

This was when a bed at government homes cost €45 to €55 per person per day so it was important to get the elderly out of hospitals and into homes as this would save the country €6 million a year.

Mr Mercieca said the call being issued was open ended and without timeframes and intended for the government to see what the private sector had to offer.

The government wanted to be prepared to avoid management by crisis.