[WATCH] 82 patients treated in hospital corridors in 12 months - Fearne

Less patients treated in hospital corridors, minister boasts

The last 12 months saw only 82 patients receiving treatment in corridors at Mater Dei Hospital, health minister Chris Fearne said this morning. 

"In 2012, the last full year of a Nationalist administration, the number stood at 8118," said Fearne.

He said that through measures taken by the hospital under the current administration, patients recover treatment in corridors on four nights - one in October and three in January.

"82 patients represents a 99% reduction over 2012. This means we have 1% left because the four nights registered in the past year are four nights too many," he said.

Fearne said that it was clear from the start that the hospital's capacity would kif be enough to cater for the country's demand, adding that between the hospital's opening in 2007 and last year "there had not been one day in which there were no patients in corridors."

The minister pointed out that the reduction was registered through measures such as the refurbishment of the hospitality lounge, the more efficient use of hospital beds as well as the conversion of other spaces into wards as having contributed to more beds being available in the hospital's wards. 

In addition to this he pointed to an accelerated pace of work at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology centre which has allowed the centre to ease the pressure off Mater Dei's haematology ward and the planned conversion of the M7 ward into a specialised diabetes ward which would also be improving the situation at the hospital.

Fearne added that work on St Luke's rehabilitation centre as well as other planned projects will give Mater Dei Hospital options and to continue to achieve what had previously seemed like an insurmountable task.