Former Labour mayor, 29, entrusted with running mental health hospital

The Labour government has entrusted the running of Malta's mental health hospital to a Labour election candidate, and former mayor of Msida, Clifton Grima, a lawyer.

Grima, who was previously described as a "rapporteur" on mental health reform, replaces former Mount Carmel Hospital chief executive Dolores Gauci, founder of Richmond Foundation and until recently head of mental health services.

Health minister Godfrey Farrugia had been unwilling to confirm that he was putting Grima, a 29-year-old lawyer, in the role of hospital CEO, limiting himself to say that "studies were still underway" over the implementation of the mental health act. "There is a lot of speculation going on and I'm sorry to see that everyone sees the negative aspects. We are currently undergoing a three-year work programme to implement the mental health act, and we're only ending up with this ping-pong," Farrugia had said.

Grima was "interviewed" by health ministry and Mount Carmel hospital staff on his knowledge of the Mental Health Services Act. But the health ministry had claimed with MaltaToday that Grima was acting as an unpaid "rapporteur" during meetings on a review of mental health laws.

Opposition spokesperson for health Claudio Grech had described Dolores Gauci, who has over 20 years' experience in the mental healthcare field, as a highly-specialised professional who is well respected and who was originally selected from a public call for applications.

Gauci has now been made chief operations officer (COO) responsible for community mental health within the Health Ministry.

Yesterday health minister Godfrey Farrugia told The Times that Gauci has remained within the senior management of the mental health service and has been given "the prima donna role" in community mental health care as a COO.

Asked what qualifications Clifton Grima had to run a psychiatric hospital, Farrugia replied: "Dr Grima, with his legal and management background, is the new COO at an acute hospital health care, within a system that may have medico-legal implications."