Hospital doctors and consultants report late for work

Nineteen doctors and consultants are being asked by the health department to explain why they reported late for work yesterday morning.

An inspection was made at the gates of St Luke's Hospital to ascertain what time the doctors and consultants were reporting for work. Another inspection took place at the outpatients department, where patients are given appointments from 8 a.m. Doctors are meant to report for work at 7.45 a.m. Another inspection was carried out at the operating theatres at 9 a.m.

Sources said 19 doctors and consultants from several departments reported for work at 8.30 a.m. or later and were being asked by the hospital administration to explain in writing why they were late.

Three of the medical practitioners who reported late were supposed to be seeing patients at the outpatients department.

The inspection at the operating theatres did not reveal any irregularities as all doctors and medical staff were where they should have been. Contacted for his reaction, the director of institutional health, John Cachia, confirmed that the inspections had taken place.

"There are 450 doctors at St Luke's Hospital and most do their work with care and dedication.

"The majority of doctors go beyond their call of duty and spend more time at work then they should and are very flexible.

"It is a pity that such incidents take place. We have to single out the good from the few bad ones as the latter give a bad name to the hospital. Patients should not end up waiting unnecessarily for 45 minutes," Dr Cachia said.