Foreign Affairs minister discharged from hospital after surgery

Foreign Affairs minister George Vella has been discharged from Mater Dei Hospital after undergoing coronary bypass surgery last week.

Doctors have advised him to rest for a few days before gradually returning to work.

In a statement, Vella thanked Prof. Alex Manche, Prof. Robert Xuereb, Prof. Brendan Caruana Montaldo, their respective medical teams, and all Mater Dei staff for their care, professionalism and dedication.

Earlier this month, Vella was taken ill during a visit to Beijing and had to have a minor cardiac intervention. He was brought back to Malta by air ambulance and consultants suggested that he should undergo bypass surgery.

Vella is a former deputy prime minister, having served in the Alfred Sant government of 1996-1998 as minister for foreign affairs and the environment.

He resigned his position as deputy leader in 2003.