Update 2 | St Luke's set to host long-term patients

This morning a number of beds were transferred from the former private St Philip’s Hospital to St Luke’s in Pieta.

Stevedores and a number of Mater Dei Hospital staff members were seen moving beds from the former private hospital which was closed down in 2012 after running into financial problems, to the former general hospital in Pieta.

Although a man, who identified himself as a hospital official, argued that no pictures could be taken inside St Luke's, a van was seen unloading beds in the wing which was formally used as the hospital's emergency ward.

This morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did not deny that beds were being moved to St Luke’s, however he said that government would be announcing its plans for the health sector in the coming days.

“We are currently reviewing a number of agreements,” Muscat said, adding that government was looking at a number of projects which would alleviate the pressure on Mater Dei.

MaltaToday is informed that a new ward is set to be opened at St Luke’s in the coming days and government has rented up to 30 beds from different companies.

Today around 20 beds were moved to St Luke’s and are expected to be used by social cases and long-term patients which are currently occupying beds at Mater Dei.

In a statement issued later this afternoon, the health ministry confirmed that 17 long-term patients are to be transferred to a ward, which was previously used as a Day Care Centre at St Luke’s.

The patients will be transferred from the Karin Grech rehabilitation centre , which will in turn receive 17 patients from Mater Dei in need for rehabilitation services.

As a result, 17 beds will be freed up at Mater Dei.

Contacted by MaltaToday, St Philip’s owner Frank Portelli said “I cannot confirm this information,” adding that although he was not aware of any such agreement, a deal might have been struck between government and a third company managing the hospital.

Despite previous claims that the former general hospital would not be used to welcome patients, earlier this month health minister Godfrey Farrugia hinted that St Luke’s may yet see a return of patients to address the bed shortage at Mater Dei Hospital.

A report co-authored by the World Health Organisation has indicated that Mater Dei Hospital needs 500 more beds to handle acute cases. When Mater Dei Hospital was opened in 2008 the former general hospital in Pieta was not vacated completely, with the Karin Grech wing kept as a rehabilitation centre and the previous outpatient area housing the administration and stores for the Pharmacy Of Your Choice scheme.

Last year, Portelli said he was planning to sue government for damages, a year after the previous administration pulled out of an eight-year lease agreement at the last minute.

The deal would have paved the way for the conversion of the private 100-bed hospital into a rehabilitation facility.