Not enough doctors, nurses, for new hospital or enlarged Mater Dei - MAM president

The president of the Medical Association of Malta, Gordon Caruana Dingli, has cautioned that while there is a need for more hospital beds, there aren’t enough doctors and nurses for a new hospital or an enlarged Mater Dei. The investment will be substantial and the health budget will have to increase, he told Times of Malta. Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia said recently that Malta was some 400 hospital beds short to treat acute cases. Dr Caruana Dingli suggested an improved primary healthcare services to remove the need for people to go to Mater Dei; keeping elderly patients in a home environment and having lower dependency beds for the elderly to free the acute beds at Mater Dei.