The more I avail myself of the various medical services at Mater Dei the greater my conviction regarding the irrationality of the unending sprawling layout of the building concept involving not just massive waste of highly valuable land but, even more, huge additional costs in the execution and running of the project.

This time round I have had to spend almost a full day starting at 6.30am being pushed along in my wheel chair by a member of the family sacrificing her day’s chores for me to reach and attend on time the various sections responsible for servicing my ailment.

Were it not for the unstinted dedication of my daughter to ensure my welfare and comfort I would have finished up a total breathless wreck had I to cover the distances on foot involving many scores of meters to and fro  among all the hustle and bustle of both clients and staff all racing snappily to keep and attend appointments.

I feel repeating once again that it is purely and simply thanks to the selfless dedication of the staff at all levels and grades that patients receive and experience a superb service surely second to none in the medical province.

May we hope that the present authorities have learnt and absorbed this lesson, staring them in the face, when the inevitable and much-overdue extension for additional bed and ancillary accommodation space will be expeditiously taken on board without any further procrastination.

Meanwhile, time does not appear far off when the responsible authorities shall have to consider the implementation in the unending corridors of Mater Dei of an Arriva-like internal service, via suitable battery-operated vehicles, to convey both staff and clients in all directions to maintain present levels of efficiency and wherever necessary even to hike them.

Edwin Calleja

Balzan