As flu patients at Mater Dei Hospital peaked last week, staff are now bracing themselves for an increase in children falling ill.

Hospital CEO Ivan Falzon said yesterday that though Mater Dei was still operating at full capacity, the number of patients admitted with the flu had remained constant over the past few days. However, an increase in paediatric cases was likely as children returned to school this week after the Christmas break.

More than 25 medical interventions that were not critical had to be postponed on Monday as the hospital struggled to cope with a sharp rise in patients suffering from the flu.

Areas normally used for day cases were transformed into wards to cater for those who needed to be admitted to hospital after being struck down with flu. According to Mr Falzon, the decision was taken in a bid to ensure patients would get the best possible treatment.

Surgeries are being carried out as planned

Asked whether any other interventions had been postponed apart from those that were to be held on Monday, Mr Falzon pointed out that notwithstanding the workload resulting from the sharp increase in patients, other surgeries were being carried out as planned.

The health authorities said last week those admitted to hospital with influenza was up by 15 per cent despite a 28 per cent increase in the uptake of the flu vaccine.

Asked whether efforts had been made to use beds available elsewhere, Mr Falzon said Mater Dei was working closely with Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital and some homes for the elderly to deal with the situation.

The Directorate for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention said in 2017 Malta had a flu vaccination uptake record with a total of 90,677 people being inoculated, 19,928 more than the previous year.