The Nationalist Party has said that “the crisis at Mater Dei Hospital is no longer seasonal”, as it called on the government to address the lack of space in infectious diseases and mental health wards.

In a statement on Sunday, the PN said that despite being in the middle of summer, what is still Malta’s only general hospital “is struggling to cope, with the result that patients are not receiving the standard of care they deserve.”

“Because of the lack of seriousness with which this Government has treated the health sector over the past 13 years, hospital staff are being left to find ways of dealing with the shortage of space on a daily basis,” the PN said.

The party said that had the Labour Government delivered on what it promised ten years ago for St Luke’s Hospital, Karin Grech Hospital and Gozo General Hospital, then the country would not be facing these problems today.

The PN alleged that in recent days, there have been patients with infectious diseases – who should be kept in isolation wards to protect both their own health and that of others – being placed in wards alongside other patients.

A similar situation is being experienced by patients admitted to hospital with mental health conditions, where those requiring acute care are being placed in the same room as patients with less acute conditions, the PN said.

“These situations place immense stress on hospitalised patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals, who know that this is not the proper practice. However, because the Government has spent years sweeping these problems under the carpet, healthcare workers are being forced to find solutions themselves,” the party said.

The PN called on the Government to ease the pressure on healthcare professionals and ensure that patients receive the best possible care. It said that the government must immediately address the shortage of space in both infectious diseases and mental health wards so that patients can receive effective care with dignity.

“Our healthcare professionals are already dealing with far more patients than usual because of the sharp increase in the population. They should not also be expected to find solutions to problems created by the Government,” the PN concluded.

The statement was signed by PN MP and Shadow Minister for Health Stephen Spiteri.