Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne alongside Minister for Inclusion, Social Wellbeing and Voluntary Organisations Julia Farrugia Portelli launched the scheme for occupational therapy support, which will reduce waiting time for occupational therapy patients.

Fearne said that the occupational therapy department has faced two problems over these years, the Covid-19 pandemic as well as industrial action taken on by the UHM – Voice of the Workers – which the minister confirmed has been resolved.

Due to these issues, the waiting time for an appointment within the occupational therapy department had increased, with that for children above one and a half years of age being that of 10 months, which Fearne said it was unacceptable.

“The scheme will allow occupational therapists in the private sector to offer their services to patients who are in the Mater Dei hospital waiting list, which the government will then pay for,” Fearne said.

In the coming weeks, a tender will be issued to eligible occupational therapists to apply to offer their services, Fearne said. Occupational therapists who already work within the government will not be excluded from the scheme, however will need to have reached their quota in their role within the government to avoid conflict of interest, he added.

Fearne said that in a short time, the waiting time for children who are in need of these services will be reduced.

Farrugia Portelli said that 1,300 children have fallen behind in their appointments, which the recent Budget will address. She said that occupational therapy must be given in a short amount of time, and the scheme will address any financial burdens families have had to take on to receive this service in private clinics.