A new Vascular Hybrid Theatre, built at a cost of €2.7 million and crucial for patients requiring interventions on arteries and veins, has begun operating, Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, said Tuesday.

Minister Abela explained that this advanced equipment allows professionals to view arteries in different parts of a patient's body without the need to open up any part of the body. He stated that this helps enable many more procedures to be carried out with much better results and fewer complications for patients. The theatre will also be crucial for emergency cases and traffic accidents requiring interventions on arteries that are damaged or even torn during an accident.

"This theatre not only contains the tools needed for standard procedures, but it also includes sophisticated equipment that allows interventions to be done through a small incision near the patient's foot," Abela said.

Abela added that thanks to this theatre, patients can now undergo procedures with greater precision, thereby safeguarding their lives. As a result, after the operation, patients can return home in a short time without needing to spend days or even weeks recovering at Mater Dei Hospital. The Minister also noted that where it was previously not always possible to carry out procedures on vulnerable patients, this new theatre will now offer hope to those individuals.

"Today we can proudly say that we have the best care for arteries and veins in our country. Over 20 patients have already been successfully operated on in this theatre, and I am certain it will help thousands more benefit from this investment. The Government remains committed to continuing to invest in equipment that allows professionals to advance the service for the good of patients," he concluded.