On most occasions, Mater Dei Hospital is in the news for the wrong reasons. When it was being built, the controversy that surrounded the project stayed with us for years. And, since it has been opened, many times we hear about Mater Dei in connection with waiting lists and beds in the corridor.

But there are many more things that one could say about the hospital – since they are positive, we hardly ever get to hear about them.

For one thing, apart from the facilities that are available – they are much better than what we were accustomed to at St Luke’s Hospital – one must mention the high quality of service that is provided by all the staff. Doctors, nurses and all paramedical personnel do a great job, which not only means giving medical assistance, but also expressing that kind word and understanding the difficult psychological situations that patients and their families are going through.

Secondly, it must be pointed out that when one mentions waiting lists or waiting time, reference is being made to surgery that can wait. All other emergency operations are carried out in the least possible time, very often with surgeons and their staff working late into the evening when it is necessary for them to do so.

Thirdly, waiting time at the Emergency Department is long only for those patients who should have either seen their doctor or went to health centres to seek the treatment they require. Those who really need immediate care are seen to within minutes. The emergency department does not work on a first come first served basis, but on the urgency of the case. Of course, things are not perfect at Mater Dei Hospital. But it is wrong to just mention the negative aspects. It must be kept in mind that the staff at the hospital is working under great pressure all the time, and having to deal with people’s health adds to their responsibility.

It is one thing writing this leader and making a spelling mistake, and another thing to administer the right dose of medicine to a patient.