Quoting a story published on The Malta Independent on Sunday, regarding the alleged physical and mental abuse on a young patient at Mount Carmel, the Nationalist Party appealed for an in-depth investigation into this and other incidents.

Spokesman for Health Claudette Buttigieg said that people who need mental care need protection and their families deserve peace of mind about their safety.

She said that this was specifically why the previous government had set up the office of the Mental Health Commissioner and worked on the framework of the mental health law which stipulates how patients should be treated.

The PN said that it seems that over the past months, a number of cases of abuse seemed to have been swept under the carpet.

The PN said it looked forward to the publishing of the Mental Health Commissioner's annual report which should be tabled in parliament and discussed by the social affairs committee.

The opposition questioned whether the latest report has been compiled and asked whether the Health Minister was in possession of a copy. The law states that such reports must be discussed at committee stage within two months of being drawn up.