Labour MPs Helena Dalli and Michael Farrugia have expressed their satisfaction that the government has bowed to criticism by the opposition, workers’ unions and others, and decided after all to provide child-care facilities at the Mater Dei Hospital.

They said it reflected gross inefficiency that, after 17 years of planning and an expenditure of Lm300 million, such a facility had not been planned, but at least the criticism had been heeded and the deficiency would be made good.

They said the government should also consider the request for a separate room where mothers who had lost their infants at birth could recover, instead of being accommodated with other women who had given birth successfully.