Hospital patients tricked by scam nurse and doctor

The Times reports today that several deceived patients have revealed their experiences with the so-called doctor, who possessed an official hospital ID card to confirm his position as a consultant doctor.

Most of the patients who came in contact with the doctor are amputees, and were encouraged to make use of a special therapy to speed up their recovery process and the healing of deep wounds. Some of the bills charged amounted to €1,000.

The scam also involved a nurse who was charging exorbitant amounts for nursing services, while still being employed by the hospital that offers the service for free. The nurse involved in the scam reportedly holds a managerial position at Mate Dei, and chairs a committee of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN).

The same newspaper reports in a statement last week the MUMN had denied the person involved is a senior official within the union, and no nurse made any gains from the scam.

The inquiry report however reveals that the involvement of the nurse requires “severe disciplinary action.”

The inquiry also raised concerns on how the salesman managed to get a permanent hospital ID when he was not even an employer at Mater Dei. According to the hospital policy, all medical representatives can obtain a temporary card which has to be returned before leaving the building.

Several elderly patients revealed they paid large bills for receiving various kinds of therapy, and were often not given a receipt. The report concludes that not all patients, as revealed from interviews conducted by The Times, were able to decide whether they were misled, although the resulting costs were well beyond their reach.