Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne announced today that 106 patients have been moved out of Mt Carmel Hospital.

The reason for this is as they had been living there for a number of years, however did not have mental health issues. These patients were placed in accommodation within the community. 

Fearne was visiting the new ward, which has 30 beds, and will welcome the first patients on Wednesday.

The 106 patients had been admitted to Mt Carmel Hospital as they did not have anywhere else to go, the minister said. 24 more patients will be relocated in the weeks to come.

Fearne said that in July the 10-year-plan to intensify work for community psychiatric care and to construct the new acute psychiatric care hospital near Mater Dei Hospital will be launched

Mt Carmel Hospital has been in the spotlight recently, and not in a good way.

The Maltese Association of Psychiatry (MAP) had said earlier this month that it wholeheartedly with the sentiment that Mount Carmel Hospital is not fit for the treatment of patients and has been unfit for this purpose for several years now.