The Labour Party's spokesman for health, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, this morning said the government was in denial about the problems of the health sector.

She however stopped short of saying what Labour would do while in power.

Speaking at a press conference, Ms Coleiro-Preca said the waiting lists and the shortage of beds at Mater Dei were testimony of the government's failure and lack of planning.

Many promises had been made over the years, such as about reforms to primary health care, reforms of general practice and reforms in mental health care, but nothing had materialised. 

The system of family doctors was not being used to its full potential and when doctors diagnosed  a patient for, say, diabetes, the patient still had to go before a consultant at Mater Dei in order to be entitled to free medicines. This was a system which was creating bottlenecks and delays.

The lack of planning was also evidenced in care for the elderly. Malta was supposed to have a rehabilitation hospital for the elderly, but Karin Grech Hospital, earmarked for that purpose, was now being used for all patients. 

Asked about what a Labour government would do, she said Labour would work according to short, medium and long term targets but plans were still being finalised and the issue would also be discussed in next week's Labour Party congress.

She said the party had no position yet on the MUMN's call for the building of a second hospital to ease pressure from Mater Dei.

The Labour Party's plans, she said, would be revealed at the appropriate time.