Hospice Malta's move to the state-of-the-art St Michael Hospice in Santa Venera has already transformed care delivery for patients, with 501 new referred patients within the community benefitting from the expanded services to date, the organisation said.
"Previously based in Balzan, the new 15,000-square-metre palliative care complex has enabled the dedicated care team to support more patients and families at some of life's most vulnerable moments," Hospice Malta said.
Located on the former site of the Adelaide Cini Institute, 60% of St Michael Hospice is preserved as gardens or open spaces, creating a calm and healing environment for patients and visitors alike, it said.
Expanding on the demand for loaned medical equipment, Hospice Malta CEO, Kenneth Delia, said this had more than doubled over four years to 735 patients in 2024, compared to 377 in 2020. In just the first half of 2025, close to 500 patients have already made use of the equipment loan service, it said.
"Loaning of medical equipment at no charge allows patients to remain in their own homes and communities, maintaining their independence as much as possible," Delia said, adding that the new premises had enabled Hospice Malta to double the space allocated for this essential service.
Similar increases have also been registered in the care assistance service, with close to 29,000 hours of support given in 2024, compared to slightly over 9,000 hours in 2020. In the first half of 2025, 15,000 hours have already been delivered to support patients.
St Michael Hospice, valued at €25 million, was donated by the Archdiocese of Malta in 2019, and made possible through the generous backing of the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF), EU funding, public donations, and corporate support, Hospice Malta said.
"St Michael Hospice marks a significant milestone in Hospice Malta's journey since its founding in 1989, fulfilling a long-held vision of offering comprehensive, high-quality palliative care in a dedicated environment," it said.
Delia added that in its first six months of operation, close to 200 patients had utilised the premises for a number of therapy sessions. "These include sessions within the Day Therapy Unit, as well as emotional/psychological and social work sessions, individually and in group format, in a welcoming and purpose-built setting."
The objective of the Day Therapy Unit is to support patients who may be feeling socially isolated, while providing respite for family members. "This vital community service, as well as the other professional services within the community, are partially supported by the Ministry for Social Policy and Children's Rights as well as the Ministry for Health."
"In Balzan, the Day Therapy Unit operated from a single room. At St Michael Hospice, we now have an entire wing with multiple clinics, therapy spaces, and group therapy rooms. This expansion allows for more simultaneous sessions, greater patient capacity, and improved quality of care," Delia said.
Hospice Malta is also working closely with the Ministry for Health to prepare for the opening of the new in-patient unit at St Michael Hospice, which will further expand the range of services it offers.
Support for Hospice Malta's services is made possible through everyone's generosity. Donations by the public and business community can be made online via the Hospice Malta website at www.hospicemalta.org.