Updated at 7.55 p.m.

Former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff's general condition is continuing to show signs of improvement, Mater Dei Hospital said this evening.

"After 24 hours of treatment with broad spectrum intravenous antibiotics, intravenous diuretics and intensive physiotherapy, his respiratory and cardiac condition have stabilized. He will continue to receive acute medical care," the hospital said.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat this morning conveyed his best wishes to Mr Mintoff, who was hospitalised yesterday with heart problems.

Mr Mintoff's daughter said yesterday she was optimistic he will recover and be discharged in the coming days.

"We're very much hoping he'll be back home within four or five days," Yana Mintoff Bland told The Sunday Times.

Ms Mintoff Bland said her father had been conscious throughout, and had agreed to go to hospital.

"He's well looked after. He was on antibiotics but he needed to have these taken intravenously. It's a chest infection he cannot get rid of with oral antibiotics... I've been with him all the time and he's been fine," she said.

Mr Mintoff was last admitted to hospital in Gozo last October suffering from pneumonia. He was back home the same week.

In the past two years he has been in and out of hospital diagnosed with numerous conditions common among the elderly .

Mr Mintoff served as Prime Minister twice between 1956 and 1958 and from 1971 to 1984.