Updated | Patient’s death leads to shouting contest in parliament

Parliament transformed itself in a shouting arena this evening after the Opposition asked Health Minister Konrad Mizzi whether a patient had passed away in a Mater Dei corridor.

Mizzi confirmed that a patient had passed away in one of “the ward extensions” and said that the patient received all the required care “but there was so much that the hospital staff could do”.

“The patient was given all the necessary care…if he were in a different bed in a different ward the outcome would have unfortunately been the same,” the minister said.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil intervened, asking whether it was acceptable for the minister that a patient had died in a corridor when the government “supposedly had a roadmap” for the health sector. Busuttil went on to offer his condolences to the family of the deceased man.

Joining the PN leader to express his sympathy, Mizzi told Busuttil that trying to gain political points out of the patients’s death was shameful.

Amid more shouts of “shameful” from the government benches and replies from the opposition benches, Mizzi reiterated that the patient received all the necessary care: “I don’t think anyone should try and gain political mileage out of this. We worked night and day to address the problem of bed shortages. This was the first winter were no elective surgeries were cancelled due to bed shortage, as used to happen in the past.”

Mizzi, who extended an invitation to Busuttil to join in a tour of the hospital for a presentation of what was done and the plans for the future, also asked the PN leader to “please stand up and say whether this patient died because he was in a corridor”.

“If it is so, please inform me, so I can immediately order an inquiry,” the minister told Busuttil.

In his reply, Busuttil said he had asked whether there was "dignity" in a patient passing away in a hospital corridor.

More shouts from family minister Michael Farrugia ensued and opposition whip David Agius requested a point of order after foreign affairs minister George Vella allegedly accused  Busuttil of “inciting”.

Standing up, George Vella said that, as a doctor, he found the ongoing shouting “repulsive” – generating more booing from the opposition benches.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat could be heard commenting “shameful” while Farrugia, at one point, told Agius “to shut up”. Needless to say, this last comment continued to raise the ire of the Opposition as Agius insisted that Speaker Anglu Farrugia take action.

A visibly frustrated Speaker turned to the family minister ordering him to stay put.

Eventually, when things almost calmed down, Busuttil said the Opposition MPs sought the protection of the Speaker “but this protection was not granted today”.

Mater Dei comments on the case

The chief executive officer of Mater Dei Hospital, Ivan Falzon, also confirmed the passing away of an elderly patient in the Medical Admission Unit 1 Extension Area at the hospital following CPR procedure.

“The information in hand shows that all care required was provided according to standard protocols with a high level of professionalism and dedication by the health professionals assigned to the area in question,” Falzon said.

“Whilst extending condolences to the patient’s family, Mater Dei wishes to reiterate that the hospital is well and fully equipped to deal with medical emergencies as they occur”.

‘Joseph Muscat never had a roadmap’ – PN

In a statement, the Nationalist Party expressed its “serious concern on the rapid deterioration of our public health services”.

“No one deserves to die in a hospital corridor. The Prime Minister should wake up and try to start managing the situation which is now evidently out of control. The country urgently needs a roadmap for public health. Joseph Muscat never had a roadmap. After two years he still does not have one”.