Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela announced the launch of a new national helpline (number 1400) which will be available 24/7.

The aim of this service is to guide patients in need of urgent but non-emergency medical assistance toward the best care, close to home and in the shortest time possible, the government said.

It was explained that the first phase of this project began at the start of the year, when hospital professionals started referring patients to private hospitals, allowing them to be treated more quickly. The second phase saw family doctors using this number to be guided on the best place to refer their patients. Now, through this latest phase, individuals aged between 16 and 69 years can use the 1400 helpline to receive a diagnosis by professionals and be guided to where they can best receive the necessary care. If a person calls 1400 and it turns out to be an emergency case, the call will still be redirected to the Emergency Department.

In his speech, Minister Jo Etienne Abela stated that this launch marks the start of the third phase of the project. He explained that it is expected that around 50 people daily, who would typically turn to the Emergency Department, can now be treated in private hospitals, with the costs covered by the Government.

He added that this project reflects the Government's commitment to safeguarding patients' health while also reducing waiting times for those in need of urgent care. At the same time, those in critical or life-threatening conditions will receive more focused care.