The foundation currently pays for the scans with the private clinic as the waiting lists for the government’s facilities at St Luke’s are deemed unacceptable. The scans are indispensable in order to plan the delivery of radiotherapy. Furthermore, Dr Brincat explained, it is easier to liaise with one radiologist at the private clinic than the many doctors at St Luke’s who are responsible for the scans.
“The foundation has been indispensable for the hospital over the past years. Without it we would have slid back,” Dr Brincat said. The new equipment will enable the hospital to give the service at the hospital and will not need to ask patients to go elsewhere to have a scan taken, he explained. Dr Brincat added that the equipment is more flexible than the one used at the moment and will enable the staff to deliver a better service.
In conjunction with this project, the foundation is also holding talks with a private company for the sponsorship of a new solar system for the hospital. The new system will replace large, diesel-powered boilers. The removal of the boilers will make space for the installation of the new CT simulator and, on the other hand, save some Lm15,000 a year in fuel costs.
The installation of the system will only cost Lm16,000, which means that the money could be recouped in a year from the fuel cost reduction, foundation representative Claudia Taylor East explained. The money will be saved from the government’s bill, however it is hoped that the amount could be directed to the services offered by the hospital.
The running expense of the hospital reaches Lm1.7 million a year, excluding costs for the medicines used. When asked how much was spent on medicine, superintendent Maria Sciberras said she did not have the figures but explained that a chemotherapy treatment costs around Lm300 and that the hospital received around 23 to 25 patients a day for this treatment. Over and above these costs, the government only provided for Lm20,000 to be spent on refurbishment and purchase of equipment. For this reason, over the past year the foundation has sponsored a number of projects at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, including the refurbishment of two new oncology wards and is in the process of funding a new, enlarged chemotherapy unit to replace the current, overcrowded facilities. The foundation has also paid for the upgrading of the hospital’s gardens and recreation areas for the patients and visitors. The foundation announced a series of activities as part of its campaign.
The most prominent activity will be an exhibition of paintings by the late Halina O’Callaghan, in collaboration with her son, who will be donating the proceeds from the sale of the 800 paintings his mother produced throughout her artistic life but never exhibited.
The price of the paintings on sale will be accessible to a wide public and many are encouraged to buy the works of art as Christmas presents to friends and relatives. The exhibition will be held at St James’ Cavalier on 30 November. Although only a few of the paintings will be hung at the gallery due to lack of space, the rest will be shown through projections and a catalogue.
On 3 November, the foundation will also be holding a fashion show of antique and modern bridal gowns and a luncheon at the Radisson Hotel for which tickets are available at Lm18. During December, The American Voices of Praise, an American gospel choir, will give a concert at the Manoel Theatre, dedicated to Mrs Maggie Borg.
For more information about the foundation or the campaign the public can call on 2298-7163.