Nationalist MP Claudette Buttigieg has said that Labour MP Franco Mercieca refused to perform ophthalmic surgery on weekends and public holidays at the time the Nationalist Party was in government, but is now gladly doing so in a bid to cut down on waiting lists.

In reply, the Labour MP and former parliamentary secretary for the elderly said Mrs Buttigieg was “lying” about his profession and his services in ophthalmology.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Mercieca, an ophthalmic surgeon by profession, said Mrs Buttigieg “is lying when she insinuates that I didn't perform operations on weekends and public holidays under previous administrations. My output remained consistent according to resources made available throughout all my years in the health sector.

“The only year where there was a significant drop was during the year I spent as Parliamentary Secretary due to my political commitments. It is worth reminding readers that I continued to operate people on weekends during that period at Mater Dei. Hon. Buttigieg's party was against me doing that.

“Let me spell it out clearly, the patient was, is and will remain my top priority irrespective of who's in government. Unlike others obsessed with power, I'm not ready to lie or put my integrity on the line with haphazard statements that are meant solely to gain political mileage.”

Mrs Buttigieg however insisted that Mr Mercieca, at the time the PN was in government, refused to work more than five days a week, and his refusal did not help to cut down the waiting lists in ophthalmic surgery. Today, Mr Mercieca has changed his tune and is working on weekends and public holidays for waiting lists to be shortened.

Dr Mercieca spent a year as parliamentary secretary for the elderly before choosing to move out in the wake of allegations that he was still performing surgical interventions against the specifications of the code of ethics at the time, which deprived ministers and parliamentary secretaries from continuing with their professional jobs while holding office.