Works are ongoing at St Michael Hospice Complex in Santa Venera which will offer palliative care for patients, the government said in a statement.

This project is being carried out with an investment of €13 million, of which €8 million are from the National Social and Development Fund and €900,000 from the European Regional Development Fund.

In this complex, there will be 16 rooms that will serve as an in-patient unit where patients can be given palliative care surrounded by their families while they are going through a difficult time.

The project also includes a Day Therapy Unit and Outpatients Clinic from which the hospice will be able to offer services to patients with cancer, neurological conditions and serious heart and kidney diseases among other conditions.

Parliamentary Secretary, Chris Bonett thanked the hospice for the service it offers to patients and their families in difficult moments and explained how through this project he will continue to strengthen the services offered.

"This is a project co-financed by European funds through which we are helping a hospice fulfil its dream and we are investing in people as the patients will be given the necessary services surrounded by family support," Bonett said.

The CEO of Hospice Malta, Kenneth Delia, claimed that Hospice Malta is determined to continue with its mission to offer comprehensive palliative care free of charge, by a team of professionals, in a top-level and family environment.