Operations at Mater Dei now taking place on Sundays

Scheduled operations at Mater Dei have, as of this month, started being carried out on Sunday.

Health parliamentary secretary Chris Fearne told a press conference at Mater Dei that over 100 hospital workers – including surgeons, anesthetists and nurses – have responded to the government’s call for staff who want to work extra shifts on Sunday.

A second call will be issued in the near future.

“Our target is for 50 operations to be held at Mater Dei every Sunday, including endoscopies and hernia surgeries,” Fearne said. “This scheme, along with other initiatives such as the use of the operation room at the Mosta health centre, means that the number of operations are expected to increase by 4,000 in a year.”

He noted that a Patient’s Charter – that is currently open to public consultation – will establish timeframes for operations.

Patients will get to receive urgent operations within eight weeks, and elective surgeries within a year and a half.

If care is not initiated within those timeframes, the patient will have the right to seek treatment at a private hospital, with the government forking out the costs.