The relatives of an elderly woman who died in the corridors of Mater Dei hospital early on Tuesday thanked the hospital for their efforts and said they wanted to assure everyone the hospital had all the necessary equipment needed to save lives.

The relatives were speaking to Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne when he visited them this morning.

The woman got caught in the midst of a political controversy after her death was raised by the shadow minister for health, Claudette Buttigieg, who said the equipment needed to save the woman's life was not available in the corridor where she was being treated.

But in a a press conference a few hours later, Mater Dei CEO Ivan Falzon and clinical director Joseph Zarb Adami said everything had been done to save the woman and an investigation on Ms Buttigieg’s claims was underway.

In a statement this afternoon, Health Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne said he met the woman’s relatives who expressed concern at the way the death of their relative was reported without their consensus.

They said all the necessary equipment needed to save lives was available at Mater Dei and as the woman was dying a relative was with her and could confirm the effort made by staff with all the necessary equipment to save her life.

They expressed regret that the death of their mother was reported incorrectly and her death was used as a political football without their approval.