Mater Dei Hospital Emergency Department Overwhelmed as Patients Face Long Waits

Patients seeking emergency care at Mater Dei Hospital are experiencing wait times of over 12 hours, prompting the government to seek assistance from the private sector to alleviate the pressure. Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela has announced both short-term and long-term measures to address the hospital's capacity issues.

For the past decade, the government has failed to invest adequately in increasing bed space at Mater Dei Hospital, relying instead on the unsuccessful Steward hospitals deal. This has left Malta’s only general hospital struggling to cope with a population boom and a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The hospital's emergency department is particularly strained, with patients facing lengthy waits. A patient recounted waiting nearly 12 hours for treatment and a bed allocation. Health centers are also reporting increased wait times of four to five hours.

Compounding the issue are numerous "social cases" where patients no longer require clinical care but have no place to go, particularly elderly individuals without available spots in old people's homes.

The Health Ministry has confirmed that up to 66 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated at Mater Dei. The recent surge in COVID-19 cases, driven by the new FLiRT variants, has further strained hospital resources.

To address the crisis, the government plans to involve the private sector in emergency care and launch an educational campaign to direct patients to the most effective services in their vicinity. Longer-term projects include expanding the emergency department, increasing ITU beds by 40%, and building a new 126-bed acute psychiatric unit.

Opposition health spokesperson Adrian Delia criticized the government's lack of foresight in planning for population growth, which he says has overwhelmed public services and infrastructure. While the proposed measures aim to alleviate the current pressure, their immediate impact remains uncertain.