The number of patients seeking medical attention at Mater Dei Hospital’s casualty department has hit a new high as the peak of summer hits in, this newspaper is informed.

Sources told this newsroom that there are no beds available so much so that beds in corridors are also scarce.

“Patients are burdened with having to wait for eight to 12 hours after being seen to by a doctor to be given a bed at the hospital.

Respiratory conditions are key factors in the ongoing surge.

This newspaper is also informed that the cubicles at casualty are full to the brim and the hospital’s management could not even resort to drastic measures, as has done in the past, to place patients in corridors on beds due to the amount of people awaiting treatment.

The growing crisis in A&E has made headlines in recent months with claims the emergency department is under severe pressure due to overcrowding at the hospital.

This newspaper had published a string of stories related to the situation at Mater Dei including exclusive images of patients on stretchers in corridors.

In May, Health Minister Konrad Mizzi had announced that a €1.2 million overhaul of Mater Dei's emergency area will lead to a noticeable decrease in waiting time.
The 12-month plan, which was devised by all the relevant stakeholders including nursing staff and consultants, includes structural changes and introduction of several measures, including the setting up of a separate emergency for minors.
“Waiting time will be decreased to a maximum of four hours, down from the actual average of 6-7 hours,” the minister had said.

Mr Mizzi had also said that separate key projects were being devised to tackle other challenges of the health sector, such as bed shortages.