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Surgeon MP files protest against cardiac department’s split
Nationalist MP Albert Fenech, formerly chairman of cardiac services department, calls on government to stop separation of cardiac surgery and cardiology departments.
21 November 2013, 12:00am
Chris Mangion
Chris Mangion
1 min read
Albert Fenech
Cardiac surgeon Professor Albert Fenech has filed a judicial protest demanding that the process leading to the separation of the Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology departments at Mater Dei Hospital is immediately stopped.
In 1995, Fenech was placed in charge of the Cardiac Surgery Department, and at the same time Professor Alex Manché was put in charge of the Cardiology Department.
Noting the impact that administrative and coordination issues had on the patients, the government had 19 years ago incorporated the two departments into one. The Department for Cardiac Services was formed and the plaintiff was made chairman until he retired. His shoes were filled by Professor Manché.
Two weeks ago the Government Gazette published applications for the post of chairman of the Cardiology Department. In his protest, Fenech - now a Nationalist MP - said this had proved that the Health Department had unilaterally decided to again divide the department. He said that of the 11 consultants at the Department, nine were against the split, arguing it would negatively impact patient's health. The plaintiff said the measure had been adopted without any consultation between the minister the chairman and the practitioners.
In his judicial protest Fenech argued he had an interest in safeguarding patients' welfare, and to safeguard against his work of many years being destroyed due to bad decisions.
Chris Mangion is MaltaToday’s photojournalist, joining the newspaper in 2013.
In 1995...
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@Bones: note the title of the article: Cardiac Surgeon Professor Albert Fenech. MaltaToday quoted correctly. You are referring to Dr Thomas Fenech as the Ophthalmic surgeon not Albert Fenech. Please take care.
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I am sure Profesor Albert Fenech is not a surgeon.! Although Mr Fenech the ophthalmic surgeon is a close relation, the eyes have nothing to do with the heart, unless you use the eyes as a portal into the heart or soul. Of course I am not considering the well known and respected Profesor Fredrick Fenech the medical profesor and uncle who had retired recently. All three well respected by most.
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With all due respect, this is a very funny judicial protest. ????????????? The stakeholders should decide how the department is run but is there a conflict of interest and what is it for the good of the patients.
What is done abroad?
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as always the PN resorts to their best friend, the Courts of Law where they reign supreme, to try and stop the Government from carrying out reforms in the Health System, reforms which are deemed necessary due to the greed of PN consultants who use the hospitals to create artificial waiting lists to force the sick to revert to their private practices. The Courts of Law must cease protecting unscrupulous charlatans who squeeze the money of people when they most need it. This was was made clear by Dr Frank Portelli, ex President of the PN in Dissett.
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It has always been alleged that most of the mismanagement and growing waiting lists, earlier at St Luke's and then imported into Mater Dei, are the result of certain professions wanted to use these national assets to funnel patients towards their private practices. If I remember correctly, I believe this situation was also remarked on by the Nurses' union. Now we all know who owns, runs and establishes the charging rates for these private practices. Not only, but members of these professions want to keep a steady foothold within Malta's national health assets as well, so they could maintain the golden gravy status-quo money pumping. BUT now this chaotic situation MUST change! The PN tried to employ full time professionals at very advantageous salary packages but only attracted one punter. The IIP should be used to attract professionals from other nations to supplement full timers at Mater Dei. NO PART TIME WORK FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD BE ALLOWED!!
