New equipment in use at Mater Dei Hospital can remove a blood clot in people who have just suffered a stroke, the government said in a statement.

This new technology introduced at the hospital is part of the government’s efforts to keep investing in health services, parliamentary secretary Chris Fearne said.

Each intervention costs €6,000.

Last year, 116 men and 160 women died of a stroke, which means that it causes 7% of deaths in men and is the third most common cause of death among women.

Six blood clots have been removed successfully since the equipment was introduced.