In the upcoming years 600 additional bed places are be made available in Maltese and Gozitan hospitals announced Minister for Health and Community Care Louis Deguara. The beds are expected to solve problems of over-crowding present in local hospitals.
The initiatives were announced on Thursday after the Minister was involved in a series of meetings with doctor and nurses unions, as well as the Unjoni Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UĦM) on Wednesday.
Speaking during a news conference the Minister said that in the next 10 years an additional 100 beds will be required per year.
The Minister also noted that the quality of health care has fallen in the recent years due to over crowding caused by a large number of social cases present in hopsitals. In fact the Minister added that 2005 alone saw 163 social cases in hospitals.
Parliamentary Secretary Helen D'Amato, who also addressed the press conference, announced that some of such social cases will be transferred to St. Vincent de Paule elderly residence. However the Parliamentary Secretary also reassured that elderly persons will still be admitted to the home.
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