They said that a garden at the back of the St Joseph Wing is totally neglected, with trees that need pruning and a thick carpet of brown leaves on the ground.

Moreover, a fountain in the same place has not worked for months and the stagnant water in the pond has turned it into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Photos passed to this newspaper by the relatives show, among other things, a plate inside the pond, a dumped water heater in the garden as well as window sills and doors soiled with layer upon layer of bird excrement.

In addition, relatives complained that air-conditioning units were not working in a number of wards. One specific ward mentioned was the 15/16 St Joseph female ward.

They complained that the elderly patients, most of whom are quite frail, had to make do with fans in the sweltering heat of the hottest month of the year.