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James Debono
The head of a state-funded old people’s home in Zejtun has been fired but the Department of the Elderly is refusing to state the reasons why.
Antoinette Vella, the former manager of the home run by CareMalta where she has worked since 1994, was sacked in mysterious circumstances in the last weeks.
Confirming her sudden termination of employment, a spokesperson for Helen D’Amato, the junior minister for old people’s homes, suggested that the former head may be under investigation.
“The department is reserving the right to consider investigating if and when deemed necessary,” D’Amato’s spokesperson said.
But the same department considers the reasons for the termination of the Zejtun home head as “an internal matter between CareMalta and the said employee” and would not reveal the real reasons for Vella’s termination.
The Zejtun home was the first government residence for old people to be completely subcontracted to CareMalta Limited and presently accommodates 160 residents.
Owned by Vassallo Builders Group Ltd, CareMalta has an operating contract with the government to run the Zejtun Home.
But despite public funding, a wall of official secrecy surrounds the termination of Vella’s employment.
Contacted by MaltaToday, Zaren Vassallo refused to reveal the real reasons for Vella’s sacking.
The decision came in the wake of reports of money collected from patients to buy the anti viral Tamiflu ahead of the pandemic flu.
Last month, l-Orizzont revealed that a circular asking the elderly to pay a Lm10 deposit for the anti viral Tamiflu had been issued in the Zejtun Home. But subsequently CareMalta withdrew the circular and the deposits paid by the Zejtun patients were refunded.
Zaren Vassallo, Chairman of CareMalta completely excluded that Vella was expelled after taking deposits from patients in order to buy medicines.
“Out of respect towards her I do not feel that I should give you details on the termination of her employment,” Vassallo said.
CareMalta’s Managing Director Alex Tranter also refused to reveal the circumstances leading to Vella’s sacking.
Attempts to contact Vella proved futile.
jdebono@newsworksltd.com
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