Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne said that the next phase of the expansion of Mater Dei Hospital is the building of a new wing aimed to cater for mothers and children.

Speaking on a TV programme, he said that this project will go a long way to cut down on the number of cases in which patients are left waiting in corridors until a place in the wards is found for them. This situation has already been tackled, he said, as the number has dropped by 85%, but more needs to be done.

The government has plans for a 300-bed wing to cater for mothers and children, and this will be built near the Emergency Department, he said.