The Medical Association of Malta said this morning it disagreed with the construction of a new outpatients department at Mater Dei Hospital.

“This is unnecessary and sends mixed messages about afternoon sessions. Funds should be used to recruit more consultants, and supporting staff to improve the outpatient experience and reduce waiting times."

It was reacting to the Auditor General’s report on outpatient services at Mater Dei hospital, which, it said, confirmed what it claimed two years ago that outpatient waiting times would remain a problem with patients having to wait a year for their first appointment.

The association pointed out that general practitioners and hospital based specialists can refer patients to hospital for investigations according to the MAM–government collective agreement. While patients were requested to register they were not normally referred to further outpatient appointments taking up slots unnecessarily.

According to hospital audits, inappropriate referrals to Mater Dei by general practitioners amounted to less than five per cent. Many times it was pharmacy rules which obliged patients needing expensive drugs to set hospital appointments and this was for bureaucratic reasons.

MAM pointed out that although newly appointed consultants and hospital specialists were obliged to perform one or two afternoon/evening sessions at the outpatients department or at operating theatres, management had been slow to implement and recruit these new consultants.

The association said the suggestion of public private partnerships as a solution would result in squandering of funds and would add yet another layer of cost to management, leaving less funds for the service.