"My complaint is only with St Philip's..."

I am not making a personal attack on Dr Buhagiar, I do not know what part he plays in St Philip's hospital management or administration, if any. I only saw him for a very short time in St Philip's and for less than five minutes at St Luke's. - Pamela Grace Page, Arbroath, Scotland

I read with interest Dr Louis Buhagiar's reaction to my letter and would like to point out the following: my complaint is not with my insurers, as to date my claim is still being processed. I will let you know if Dr Buhagiar's comments are justified in due course.

Yes, medical facilities are free of charge to the British in Malta and to the Maltese in Britain, but as I knew nothing of this until Dr Buhagiar informed me on Monday at St Philip's, I was therefore given no choice.

Dr Buhagiar, by his own admission, was aware of what awaited me at St Luke's prior to sending me, but transferred me in spite of my temperature being very high and my insulin and fluids being administered through a drip, which, as I have already stated, was disconnected within minutes of being told that my insurer's would not pay. However, accommodation has been itemised twice on the bill (Lm300 for 36 hours), so it may have been that I could have stayed a bit longer.

I find Dr Buhagiar's comments with regard to my not paying his "humanitarian" (his words, not mine) "professional fee" confusing.

The fees were deducted from my husband's bank account on August 8, only three days after I left St Philip's and prior to my receiving a bill from them.

If the good doctor has not received his fee of Lm130, he should contact St Philip's; they had said it would be added to our bill and it has been deducted.

My husband had great difficulty in obtaining a bill. In fact, it was only after I intimated that I was prepared to wait in the reception area at St Philip's for as long as was necessary that I was given one.

I want to stress that I am not making a complaint about Malta's medical service. I was a visitor and at St Luke's was treated the same as any other patient. I am grateful for the care I received and once again thank the medical staff.

My complaint is only with St Philip's Hospital for the way I was treated after it was suggested that I could not afford to stay.

I am not making a personal attack on Dr Buhagiar, I do not know what part he plays in St Philip's hospital management or administration, if any. I only saw him for a very short time in St Philip's and for less than five minutes at St Luke's.

I am not interested in Dr Buhagiar's list of satisfied paying customers, only in presenting the facts as to what happened to me. I am, however, interested in who is involved in the directorship/administration/management/financial interests of the Golden Shepherd Group Limited.

I note that in Dr Buhagiar's reaction to you, he does not deny my account of what took place, except that he was under the misapprehension that I had not paid his fees. I am sending you a copy of the receipt on the bill and hope that in the future Dr Buhagiar will refrain from giving this British tourist a "bad name".

Note: Dr Buhagiar has since denied that the drip was disconnected from Ms Page.