An investigation may be launched into a claim that hospital staff threatened relatives of elderly patients that they would leave their loved ones on the doorstep if they were not at home to take them in.

Arguing that the drive to free hospital beds from social cases was going too far, Labour health spokesman Michael Farrugia yesterday claimed the authorities were also considering sending patients home accompanied by the police.

"Elderly patients are being sent home at the first ray of hope that they might be getting better. There have been cases of families being told their relative would be left on the doorstep if they were not at home to receive them," Dr Farrugia said during a public meeting.

When contacted, Health Minister Joe Cassar said there was definitely no government policy to leave patients on doorsteps.

He also denied that discussions were underway to involve the police. He said the only case that he knew of hospital authorities seeking the police's advice was when an elderly patient wanted to go back home but his relatives did not want him.

"I challenge Dr Farrugia to give me the details of these patients so that I can investigate," he said, adding that he had investigated all cases flagged by Dr Farrugia and informed him of the outcome.

Dr Farrugia later confirmed he would be passing on the details of the cases he knew about.

The minister said he would take action if he found out that anyone had threatened relatives.

Dr Farrugia told The Times that the relatives of one of his patients, who had since died, were told to remain at home because the patient was being accompanied there. He said they were told that unless they were at home, he would be left on the doorstep.

Dr Farrugia said this was not an isolated case but had happened to a number of his patients.

During the 90-minute public meeting, Dr Farrugia said it was unacceptable that patients were being treated in corridors, or had to wait for years for surgery. Some waited for months for certain medical investigations and then had to wait again for the results.

He accused the government of not having carried out the necessary changes in the past two decades to find an alternative place for elderly people who could not stay at home.

The authorities are trying to find places in other hospitals for patients needing long-term care, in order to free blocked beds at Mater Dei Hospital.

Last month, Mater Dei staff vociferously protested against extra beds being placed in the casualty department's corridor and examination areas, after a patient suffered a heart attack and had to be resuscitated in the middle of the corridor in full view of other patients.