The Labour Party this morning hit out at what it said is the 'practice' for boys to be kept at the male admissions ward of Mt Carmel Hospital.

In a statement, party health spokesman Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said said that up to some months ago, the government used to say that the Young People's Unit at Mt Carmel Hospital should not even be within the hospital itself.

But, in contrast, in a blatant lack of ethics and sensitivity, it had become the practice for boys to be kept at the hospital's Male Admissions Unit instead of the proper section.

These children were supposed to have specially trained people caring for them, but this was not happening because of a manpower shortage.

The current situation, Ms Coleiro-Preca said, was harmful to the children and the Commissioner for Children should intervene to rectify the situation.