Mater Dei 'cannot support influx' from inbound Libyan patients

Updated at 19:10

MaltaToday is informed that a total of 18 patients from Libya are on their way to Malta to receive treatment at Mater Dei Hospital and at private hospitals.

The youngest is aged 18 whilst the oldest is 45 years old. The majority of the patients are said to be in their 20s as most of them are reported to be in critical condition.  

Earlier:

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has warned government that it would support nurses who refuse to nurse patients in corridors, making nursing an impossible task similar to third world countries.

“The health sector in Malta is not in a position to support any influx of patients from any country to Mater Dei Hospital. Government has to keep in mind the nation’s welfare and should not resort to decisions just to please the international community,” MUMN President Paul Pace said today.

Reacting to the news that Malta will continue to serve its role as a humanitarian hub for Libya by bringing injured people to Malta, MUMN said Mater Dei does not have the sufficient measures to cater for the foreign patients.

“Certain Maltese politicians tend to see foreign affairs as being more important for their own personal interest, making them incapable of exposing the huge limitations which the Maltese health sector is passing through, at the detriment of all Maltese who need such an essential service,” Pace said.

He added that government had never consulted MUMN over its intention or the contingency plans, which are to be implemented in case of huge influx of patients reaching Malta.

“[We] believe that bigger countries with bigger health care facilities are to address such problems. In fact, countries such as the US have huge hospital ships which can take up more than 900 patients and are even better equipped than Mater Dei Hospital,” Pace said.

Pace said currently, Maltese patients are left on a stretcher as no beds are available, whilst they are being nursed in hospital corridors where no toilet and hand washing facilities exist. “Overcrowding is already resulting in situations where the patient’s dignity and privacy is not being respected,” he added.

He said the hospital is not even sufficient to cater for the Maltese population, whilst the shortage problem of  nurses in all government hospitals persists.

MUMN also complained about the “huge” waiting lists in both operation and investigative procedures and of the lack of adequate community nursing care.

Pace also said that there are not sufficient beds in Intensive Care, in medical wards and surgical wards whilst there are “huge waiting lists of out of stock lists of drugs and vital disposable equipment.”

Pace also noted that in Malta there is only one acute general hospital for the whole population and added that the Maltese population and nurses are already burdened with the shortfalls, which took place during MDH’s planning.

“Three corridor areas which should have never taken in patients have been opened in the two years which the hospital has been operating,” Pace said. “Patients are being nursed in such areas against all principles of aseptic techniques, against all principles of infection control, against all principles of nursing practices where the dignity and privacy of the patients in such areas does not exist.”

MUMN also said that its nurses “will not be used as the sacrifice lamb in a political saga.”

In a reaction, government reiterated that it will continue offering its humanitarian aid in the evacuation process, whilst serving as an international base so other countries could also help Libya.

The Ministry of Health explained that due to the fighting going on in the Arab country, Malta has offered its medical help in the last weeks and has brought over children and other persons who could not be aided in Libya.

“Once again Malta has been asked to help and Malta has accepted to help,” the Ministry said, adding that tonight a number of patients - including some aged between 18 and 20 - will be brought over.

It said that a number of them have been critically injured whilst fighting and added that they will be receiving treatment at MDH and at private hospitals.