A former labelling clerk and salesman led Mater Dei Hospital officials to believe that he was a medical consultant and even administered VAC therapy to speed up the healing of deep wounds, charging the patients for the use of the equipment, a court was told this morning.
The evidence was given during proceedings against Pierre Buontempo, 47 of Guardamania, who stands accused of identity fraud and embezzlement.
David Stellini, managing director of Degiorgio medical equipment importers, testified that his company had employed Mr Buontempo as a part time labelling clerk and later employed him as a medical representatives to sell its wound care products.
Buontempo had claimed that he graduated as a pharmacist from an Italian university, but never produced any certificates.
After two medical suppliers merged, Mr Stellini said he was informed by one of the suppliers that Buontempo had leaked information to a rival company about prices offered to Mater Dei Hospital.
Faced with these allegations, Mr Buontempo resigned from his job.
Mr Stellini said he then called at Mater Dei to inform them that Buontempo no longer represented the company, and it was there that he learnt that Buontempo was working at the hospital.
Yvette Bonello, a clerk in the hospital's ID Cards and access control section, testified that in 2008 Mr Buontempo called at the hospital and requested an access card, claiming he was a doctor specialised in VAC and magot therapy. He did not produce documentation.
A card with limited access was issued to him but he was requested to produce a reference letter. It was never produced.
Ms Bonello said she had issued the card, because the last time she had questioned a doctor's credentials before issuing a card, she was given a dressing down from her superiors.
Some weeks later, Mr Buontempo called again and requested a medical consultant's access card, which would grant him access to all sections.
She replied that she was unable to issue the card without documentation, and also spoke to her superiors. But Mr Buontempo then returned accompanied by nurse Leonard Schembri who told her that Mr Buontempo was an important person and he could vouch for him. The consultants' access card was then issued.
Ms Bonello said that when the documents were still not received, she tried to contact Mr Buontempo several times, without success. After some weeks she therefore blocked the access card.
Noel Abela, an Infection Control Nurse, said that nurse Leonard Schembri had turned up with Mr Buontempo and requested the infection control injections given to staff. He was administered three shots, as was normal.
Deputy Nursing Manager Corinne Ward said Mr Buontempo became such a familiar face at the hospital, that people addressed him as 'dottore' . He had claimed that he had specialised in Italy in tissue viability and even claimed that he worked for the CID forensic department.
ARRAIGNMENT FOLLOWED MATER DEI AND POLICE INVESTIGATION
The scam was first disclosed by The Sunday Times last year. In a reaction to the newspaper's story, the Health Ministry had said that it was holding an inquiry and the police were also called in.
The ministry said it was examining the administrative structures to determine what steps, including disciplinary action, should be taken.
It has also requested the police to open a criminal investigation into the activities of the nurse and the salesman who were alleged to have swindled vulnerable patients out of hundreds of euros by charging patients for a specialised therapy not provided by the state.
The ministry said a report had been drawn up in connection with the alleged abuse which involved charging patients up to €1,000 for VAC Therapy.
“This preliminary report shows there is more scope for investigation and the Health Ministry passed this report to the police,” the statement said.
The ministry had ordered its internal investigation after a patient turned up with an invoice expecting to be reimbursed for the VAC Therapy – a technique also known as negative pressure wound therapy – which he received at Mater Dei.
The hospital had started providing this therapy on a trial period but stopped because it was still being tested and complications arose in the tendering process for its provision.
According to the ministry’s report, however, the salesman continued to provide the equipment and a nurse offered the therapy to patients, who were given the impression it was free – or when they asked if there was a charge, they were told “it did not cost much”.
The internal inquiry report stated: “The involvement of (includes name of nurse) clearly stated that they are demanding payment for his (the nurse’s) services. This while he is employed at Mater Dei, more so in a management position.”