New appointments system

The Psychiatric Outpatients Department within St Luke's Hospital has been modernised and a new appointments system introduced in order to provide a better service to patients.

This department, which was inaugurated yesterday by Health Minister Louis Deguara, provides mental health care outside Mount Carmel Hospital.

Falling directly under the responsibility of Mount Carmel Hospital, this department offers its services to hundreds of patients with mental health problems every week.

These patients can receive the necessary treatment without having to be admitted to hospital so they can continue to live an independent life within the community.

Dr Deguara said the new appointments system was drastically reducing the time patients had to wait by being given a specific time slot for their appointment with a consultant.