The €4 million given to Karin Grech Hospital by government were operational funds, and are spent on paying salaries and ensuring that the hospital continues to run as it did before, Vitals Global Healthcare CEO Armin Ernst told The Malta Independent.
A VGH statement published last week said that VGH Karin Grech Hospital officials and national healthcare officials are working closely together to help alleviate the pressure on Mater Dei to accommodate patients with acute illnesses brought about by current cold weather conditions as the state hospital saw a high number of admissions.
The Medical Association of Malta rebutted by a statement of its own, saying that according to its sources VGH only allocated two extra beds crammed into five of the larger wards to give a total extra 10 bed capacity. "There are indeed no new wards and there has been no investment to date in the capacity or infrastructure of KGH despite the additional 4 million euro provided by the government".
"With a daily intake to around 70 patients per day at Mater Dei Hospital, the impact of this measure will be minimal," MAM said.
Asked whether the €4 million has anything to do with bed capacity, Dr Ernst said no.
Asked whether more beds will be added to Karin Grech hospital for use in emergencies with regard to Mater Dei Hospital, he said that VGH will do everything in its power to help with the bed crunch. "We are in constant communication with all stakeholders including the Ministry of Health and Mater Dei Hospital as to how we can help".
Yesterday, Vitals Global Healthcare and MCAST signed an agreement establishing a nursing degree programme, in collaboration with Northumbria University.
Asked how this initiative helps solve challenges facing the nursing industry, he said that nurses are essential to healthcare delivery wherever you go. "Right now we are missing around 350 nurses and because of this, everyone suffers and the medical sector cannot expand. This partnership we hope will provide a long-lasting solution".
This programme hopes to help address the nursing shortage.
Turning to Barts Medical school, he said that the last number he heard with regard to student applications was close to 1,500.