The decision to relocate certain specialist medical care units to bigger and better premises that also leave room for further expansion in the future is a positive move that will hopefully reduce overcrowding in our hospitals.

Health Minister Louis Deguara last week pointed out that St Luke’s hit an all-time overcrowding high with over 130 beds standing in corridors. But one must dig deeper to understand the problem in its entirety.

Zammit Clapp rehabilitation unit caters for 60 patients and turns down some 30 per cent of requests for admission. He explained that realistically, and to plan for the future, the unit needed some 220 beds. Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, meanwhile, can operate comfortably in the future with a capacity of 60 beds. However, the problem lies in the fact that the Oncology Department’s medical equipment is just too large to be accommodated in the current premises.

The issue of social cases taking up beds at St Luke’s (an 833-bed hospital) has a knock-on effect too. However, this should be alleviated by the construction of a new wing at St Vincent De Paule home for the elderly and the completion of a retirement home in Mellieha, which should bring total bed-complement for elderly people to a total of 2,000.

The original idea was to have either the Rehab Unit or the Cancer Unit placed adjacent to the new Mater Dei hospital, but this also would have created space constraints. However, someone came up with the idea of moving the former unit to the St Vincent de Paule grounds, which are abundant. This will allow further expansion of the rehab unit if needed, coupled with the fact that it is close to the home for the elderly.

The Cancer Unit will move to the current Zammit Clapp premises. This will allow for equipment to be placed comfortably, while at the same time giving patients a nicer environment for their convalescence period. The news that radiotherapy bunkers will be 80-90 per cent financed by the European Union is also good to hear, as is the fact that they will be built in the Zammit Clapp grounds rather than spoiling the building. The ample space will allow for ancillary services and a much-needed cancer hospice to be placed under one roof.

Hopefully, these measures will drastically reduce, if not eliminate, beds in corridors. But the authorities, who should be commended for not leaving it too late, should continue to monitor our health care system and try to find more ways of alleviating pressure on some units. Others that spring to mind are physiotherapy, out-patients, as well as Casualty and X-Ray.

We should not rest on our laurels either, in particular with the ageing of the population. It was announced that in 10 years, some 18 per cent of the population will be over the age of 65. The ministry and the Health Division were wise enough to identify a solution to this problem and should continue to endeavour to ensure that we are not back in the same situation in about 20 or 30 years’ time.

The minister said he hoped that creating a state of the art Oncology Department will bring some of the brain drain back to Malta (as happened with the cardiac and neurology departments). However, this will only happen if doctors’ pays and conditions are improved – a decent working environment is vital, but no one works for charity.

Another interesting spin off from this migration plan is that Sir Paul Boffa hospital will be vacated in the end. The government, as yet, does not have any plans for it and it is likely that it will await developments.

Whether it will be sold or leased remains to be seen. What is sure is that this attractive piece of architecture commanding beautiful views of the Grand Harbour should not be left to rot once it is no longer used.