Health Minister pledges more mental health investment during Mount Carmel visit

The new Health Minister on Friday pledged to continue building on recent upgrades while addressing remaining challenges in mental healthcare as he visited the recently inaugurated acute care wards at Mount Carmel Hospital.

Ian Borg, who took on the health portfolio following the general election, visited the hospital as part of a series of visits to healthcare institutions around the country.

During the visit, he met with patients, staff and hospital management to hear about their experiences first-hand, as the hospital recently started using two new acute care wards for around 46 patients.

Inaugurated in May, the wards were met with criticism from the nurses’ union which warned they allowed access to an “unsafe” therapeutic garden where people can die by suicide, harm themselves or even escape the hospital.

However, health authorities at the time assured the new wards met international standards and the garden will be secured to ensure safety for all patients before they are given access to it.

On Friday, Borg said he was able to experience the transition towards these new wards “which provide the best possible environment for those who are here for a short period to receive the acute care they need”.

“The Government’s plans continue to build on the work carried out over recent years, while recognising and addressing the remaining challenges. I look forward to further investment, including the project being launched at Mater Dei Hospital where new psychiatric wards will be built,” the minister said.

Mount Carmel Hospital Chief Executive Roseanne Camilleri spoke about the progress being made in the hospital’s renovation and the ongoing projects aimed at further improving the quality of care offered to patients.

Projects highlighted included the regeneration of the wards that have been vacated, which are at an advanced planning phase.