Update: Mintoff discharged from ITU
After six days hospitalised at the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) at Mater Dei Hospital, 94-year-old former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff has been discharged from the ITU and was continuing treatment in a normal ward at Mater Dei. The news from Labour sources arrived shortly 1.15pm on Wednesday.
21 September 2010, 12:00am
Charlot Zahra
Charlot Zahra
3 min read
The previous day, Labour leader Joseph Muscat had announced that Mintoff's health had continued "registering an improvement”.
Between Tuesday and today, Mintoff was expected to be “transferred from the intensive care unit at Mater Dei Hospital, where he had been kept since he had been hospitalised last Thursday afternoon, “to continue his treatment in a normal ward at Mater Dei,” Muscat had added.
Muscat had made this announcement after he placed a bouquet of flowers at the Independence Monument in Floriana shortly after 12.30 pm on Tuesday.
Muscat also announced that “in agreement with the Mintoff family”, he had visited the former Premier at Mater Dei Hospital.
During this third meeting, Mintoff and Muscat had a “long conversation”
The PL and the Mintoff family re-iterated their appeal to the general public “to respect his privacy” and not to visit Mintoff at hospital.
The medical team that were taking care of Mintoff’s health also insisted that in order for the former Labour premier to recover, Mintoff needed “a lot of rest”,
Meanwhile, the PL recalled well-wishers that it was still receiving get well soon wishes for Mintoff on the PL’s website.
Late on Saturday night, the PL had invited all those "who would like send wishes for a speedy recovery" to log on the PL's website at www.mlp.org.mt and leave a message there.
In a statement issued shortly after 7pm on Saturday, the party had said all messages "will be relayed to Mintoff and his family".
Early on Saturday morning, President George Abela had visited Mintoff at his hospital bed.
The announcement had been made in one-liner statement issued by the Department of Information (DOI) to the media at 11.42 am. It did not add any further details as to the former Premier's health condition.
The latest medical update on Mintoff 's health condition issued the previous day at 2.40 pm had reported that the 94-year-old former prime minister had "in stable condition" and was still being kept for observation at the ITU at Mater Dei.
Earlier, Labour sources reported that his condition had "improved slightly" after he suffered a mild stroke.
Mintoff had been hospitalised at Mater Dei's intensive therapy unit on Thursday afternoon, reportedly suffering from dehydration and agitation. His condition had been then described as "stable".
A terse DOI statement issued at 7:22 pm on Thursday had said that he had been hospitalised “for observation and for medical tests”.
Muscat had visited the former PM at the ITU shortly after midnight, where he spoke to MIntoff's family. His condition yesterday was believed to be serious, but the PL said in a second statement issued shortly around midnight that he was "stable."
The PL had appealed to the public not to pay Mintoff any visits while he was recovered in hospital.
Only last month, on 6 August 2010, Mintoff had celebrated his 94th birthday. Mintoff was Prime Minister of Malta twice between 1956 and 1958, and then from 1971 to 1984.
Most recently, he campaigned against EU membership alongside his long-time confidant and former Labour prime minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.
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@ Joe Portelli - I agree with what you say, the PL leader lacks experience and the infighting with the PL will never be over , hot headed loyalists to previous leaders past their sell-by-date and hypocratic supporterd like Joe South (not even Maltese name) will keep the Labour Party handicapped.
I have given up and despite the current gloom, better stick to what we know then trust a man made poser full of himself rather than ideas.
Clayton Saliba •
@ South = Fact is, Labour LOST once again, by calling their own voter ' bigot' - South, you just don't get it do - CHANGE OR KISS IT GOOD BYE.
Gordon Brown had more arrogance in his little finger than all the charity work he did for Africa , and that's the same case with the Malta PL , intoxicated in hopes and good wishes , which are never a predictable strategy and only leads to arrogance, which you South are well endowed with.
At least Alfred Sant would not have turned up last to meet a visiting King of Spain - or pretend he is the Col confidant , or that he represents Malta whilst in opposition - that my South, is SHEAR ARROGANCE manifestation of smally boy with no real life experience and needs to grow up ASAP.
shyam sundar •
Since Kinnocks, UK Labour Party has been in power twice, though it lost marginally in the last elections.
On the local terrain, the local PL seems to be doin fine, though it needs to refine its good work.
Your comments made a lot of sense during Alfred Sant's leadership, but now, its an other story.
Clayton Saliba •
Your arrogance in assuming you are thw ruling party in waiting, reminds me of another historical Labour party failure, this time in UK, Neil Kinnocks Neanderthal calls ' oh yeahh, ohhh yeahhhhhhhhh' as he landed by helicopter amidst leading polls , to a final address to labour supporters - seen leve by the whole country on TV , the rest was history, that arrogance lost the popularity , lost them the election (despite the majority did not wish Mrs Thatcher to remain PN) and Kinnock lost his leadership - Even he admits this assumption of a gauranteed win for whatever reason, is nothing short of arrogance.
Change the Labour Party attitudes or you will join the 'oblivion' once again.
Abdul Mohammed •
To judge by Malta Today's poll the majority of Maltese people are gasping to see the back of your GonziPN.
As for PN being the best...well the mere fact that the next Prime Minister will not be your GonziPN will bring a divident of goodwill. The Maltese know that with DR Muscat and the PL, there will be a new message of hope a change of direction on financial mismangement and corruption , but most importantly, there will be a change of heart.
There comes a time every 25 years or so, when no matter what the party in Government does to lure back the electorate, it wan't succeed; the propulsive thrust that catapulted the PN to power has fizzled out.
Clayton Saliba •
Both " long converstion " and " PL's advise for supporters not to visit" are reported as facts and not insinuiations in todays and yesterdays Maltese Press.
Fanatics are those with an Axe To Grind name and not openly exposed to face the facts.
The best assets for the PN is the PL. The PN will win by default (and not because they are any good , they are the best between the two but not good enough for waht is needed), as has happened for a number of times - and anyone stating the above cannot surely be in the 'opposite camp' as it is not exaclty a flattering remark for the PN.
Why can't people like you not accept that some Maltese do not approve of any political games as played by the current parties but still have the right to express strong opinions towards either camps and repeat factual statements, without being label as from the 'opposite camp' , perhaps you could use 'closed mind' instead of axe to grind next time as it would be a fitting title............
No offence meant...........
Abdul Mohammed •
@ Mr Portelli
Insinuations of the worst kind could only come from the opposite camp, and to be fair only from the fanatic ones!
Clayton Saliba •
'During this third meeting, Mintoff and Muscat had a “long conversation” ' , with someone who had the misforetune to suffer a mild stroke ? Or was it a long conversation in relative to Mr Muscats interest ?
Mr Muscat's PL, party should not just advise for their supporters not to Visit the patient, but also to remind them not to Vote for Mintoff as he will not be on the ballot paper - that is all Mr Muscat interests are , to manipulate the sympathy felt but the Maltese towards any unforetuate who suffers stroke.
Trust Mr Mintoff all the good health and rapid recovery and the PL to keep their distance.
