There are no patients situated in any structurally dangerous wards at Mount Carmel Hospital, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Thursday.

Asked about the situation in other wards at the hospital, and about reports that patients are being kept in wards where the ceiling is held up by jacks, Fearne sad that it is not the case that there are patients stationed in wards where it would be dangerous for them to stay

He said that the situation in the hospital did not start in the past year or two, but had been there for several years.  He noted that previous governments “had chosen to ignore” the problem, but this government has chosen to take the bull by the horns and address the issues that the hospital is facing.

He noted that a year and a half ago the government embarked on a five year plan to regenerate the hospital and that works are ongoing to the point that a second renovated ward will be opened to patients on Friday.

It was at this point that Fearne took umbrage to the line and tone of the questioning being put to him, consequently leaving the interview without giving any further answers or comments.

Fearne was taking questions from journalists at Mount Carmel Hospital, where he was announcing the completed refurbishment of ward, the second one opened at the Hospital, which will welcome 26 patients starting from Friday.

He said when addressing the media that everybody knew of the bad situation that Mount Carmel Hospital was in, but noted that the five year plan for the restoration of the hospital is on track with this being the second refurbished ward that has been opened and with works in other wards also ongoing.