Labour Whip repeats call for new mental health hospital to replace Mount Carmel

Labour Whip Godfrey Farrugia has resurrected his call to construct a new mental health hospital across Mater Dei and convert Mount Carmel into a residential care home

“We must move from a style of institutional custodial care to a more pro-active style that helps patients integrate into the community,” Farrugia said in his parliamentary adjournment.

He noted that UK-based mental health specialist Walter Busuttil recently criticised Mount Carmel as “Victorian-style” and warned that the Attard home institutionalises its patients.

“The previous administration had failed to take the bull by its horns, and it shames me to say that the situation hasn’t changed in the past two years either,” he said.

Farrugia had first announced the plans as health minister in October 2013, but they failed to gain traction and he was eventually replaced as minister by Konrad Mizzi.

According to his proposal, the new mental hospital would cater for 130 severe patients, and Mount Carmel would be split into residential care units.

“The previous administration had failed to take the bull by its horns, but it the situation hasn’t changed in the past two years either,” the Whip said.

He warned that only 450 of the 650 residents at Mount Carmel are people suffering with mental health, with the remainder elderly patients for whom there is no space for in elderly homes.

Moreover, a further 100 or so people are registered as in-patients, but are actually on prolonged leave.

“There beds at Mount Carmel are already occupied though, so there is no guarantee they have a place there if they require it,” he said.

He described his plans as a “win-win” situation – for patients, the national health system, and the nation as a whole.