In 2013, there were 28,000 patients awaiting an operation at Mater Dei Hospital, half of whom had been waiting for 18 months. The number has dropped by 90% to just 1,000, Health Minister Chris Fearne said today.

Speaking during a visit to the hospital, Fearne said that the number of surgical interventions on Sunday has increased drastically. Some 2,500 operations were held since a decision was taken to open operating theatres on Sunday.

He said that in the past month 4,938 interventions were carried out, 545 more than the same month last year, for an average of 160 operations per day.