Up to 400 non-clinical support staff working at Mater Dei Hospital have commenced an EU-funded training programme held under the European Social Fund.

Members of staff have been placed in different groups according to their designations and each training programme has been designed to address the specific needs of each group.

The project beneficiaries are support staff occupying the roles of cleaners, porters and transport personnel in the first group; ward clerks, customer care personnel, telephone operators, receptionists and clerical staff in the second group; and supervisory and administrative staff in the third group.

Paul D. Micallef, consultant/adviser for staff training and retraining at the hospital, stressed that such training is crucial so that members of staff meet the quality requirements established by the government following the migration to Mater Dei.

The programme is running under the leadership of Andrew Xuereb, director, human resources/ administration at the hospital, while John Anastasi is project manager.