The increasing number of social cases at St Luke’s Hospital throughout the year is causing extra pressure on the staff and around 100 more beds a year will be needed over the next 10 years, Health Minister Louis Deguara said yesterday.

Dr Deguara was speaking at a media conference during which he gave details about solutions that are being sought in order to overcome the problem of over-crowding at hospital, which may have adverse effects on the quality of the health service provided as a result of extra pressure on hospital staff.

Talks were also held with the concerned unions yesterday afternoon since the minister said the aim was that they will be active participants in determining both short and long-term solutions in this regard.

Dr Deguara and parliamentary secretary for the elderly and community care Helen D’Amato said the number of social cases at hospital presently stands at 84, four of whom had to be accommodated within the surgery ward.

“There is no longer much of a difference between summer and winter, in the number of social cases at hospital, and this is a problem that we had predicted.

“One of the solutions is that the government is seeking to rent beds from private homes like Casa Arkati, Villa Messina and Casa Serena, but only 25 beds are available, even though a common perception is that a good number of beds are vacant in private homes,” said Dr Deguara.

In order to further improve the situation, the government is also seeking to increase the number of wards at Mount Carmel Hospital, and St Vincent de Paule residence for the elderly is undergoing constant rehabilitation, so that cases that are not considered to be acute will be able to be transferred from St Luke’s to Mount Carmel.

The preferred bidder has also been chosen to sign the contract for the Mellieha residence for the elderly to be built and this will provide another 100 beds.

One of the short-term solutions that has been identified is an increase in the number of beds on a temporary basis at St Vincent de Paule. Extra staff will also be recruited to increase the complement at the residence, although Dr Deguara pointed out that no staff from St Luke’s Hospital will be transferred.

“Our priority is to ensure that acute care maintains a very high standard and to make sure that nobody abuses of the health service during the winter months, when it is more difficult to cope. The ultimate aim is that patients are rehabilitated in a manner that they are capable of living in the community.”

Mrs D’Amato also pointed out that it is important for the general public to understand that the intake of patients at St Vincent de Paule will go on as usual, so it does not mean that those who would like to go to the residence for the elderly will need to be admitted to St Luke’s Hospital first.

Long-term solutions include an increased number of beds (from 60 to 280) for patients that would be in the process of rehabilitation, but this service, which is presently provided at Zammit Clapp Hospital, will be transferred to a new rehabilitation centre that will be built close to St Vincent de Paule in Hal Farrug, whereby patients under 61 years old will also be able to receive rehabilitation.