Updated | After MAM's complaints, Health Minister meets emergency doctors

Health Minister Chris Fearne acted quickly this morning after the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) accused him of offending emergency doctors with his words.

In comments made in an interview to The Sunday Times of Malta, health minister Chris Fearne described the colour-coded IT system implemented at the emergency department at Mater Dei used to reduce waiting time, adding that “the doctor knows that the CEO is watching, so it work.”

In a statement, the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) claimed that emergency physicians were “insulted” by the statement, calling for Fearne to clarify his comments.

“This allegation … casts serious doubt on the professionalism and integrity of emergency physicians who have adapted their work practices to see patients in a timely manner and carry out their duties under the constant pressure of time constraints and increasing patient numbers,” MAM said. 

“In view of the above, the minister may wish to clarify the reported comments to clear any ambiguity that may be perceived vis-à-vis the professionalism of emergency physicians.”

MAM added that the IT system mentioned by Fearne was originally proposed by the emergency physicians themselves, with the primary aim of tracking the progress of each patient in the emergency department. Its aim was “not to monitor the doctors who use it,” MAM insisted.

With Emergency #Doctors this morning at Mater Dei -Grateful for their professionalism and sterling service in bringing down waiting times. pic.twitter.com/XBAmgchNGm

— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) March 27, 2017

Later, Fearne tweeted a photo of himself in a meeting with emergency doctors, saying he was “grateful for their professionalism and sterling service in bringing down waiting times.”