The cost of looking after a patient at Mount Carmel Hospital varies between €76 a day and €654, according to Health Minister Chris Fearne.

He said that the cost depends on the level of treatment and care that they require.

He was responding to a parliamentary question posed by MP Mario Galea.

There are approximately 400 patients at any one time at the mental health hospital, but there is a shortage of staff: in certain wards, there is only one nurse for between 30 and 40 patients.

In February, it was reported that there were 22 patients supposed to be under constant watch.

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