Speaking last night at a dinner in his honour (he celebrates his birthday today) at Ghajn Tuffieha last night, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was still euphoric after the inauguration of the Mater Dei Hospital the previous day.

He was also undoubtedly receiving up to the minute messages about the considerable turnout of people visiting the new hospital yesterday and their genuine amazement.

“We are giving our people a complete, free and high quality health service,” Dr Gonzi told diners. He committed his government to deliver not just a new hospital but also a high-quality health service.

He was fulsome in his praise of the healthcare professionals and promised not just a new hospital for oncology but also a new rehabilitation centre, which will be sited at Luqa.