Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1441473
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JANUARY 2022 13 COMMERCIAL Wellbeing and convenience first at APS Bank IN view of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, APS Bank has stepped up its actions to safeguard the wellbeing of staff and customers whilst ensuring that all services con- tinue uninterruptedly. Apart from the ongoing campaigns promoting the Bank's digital platforms, including myAPS internet and mobile bank- ing, ATMs for cash with- drawals up to €1,000 and all deposits through the deposit machines across the branch network, additional meas- ures were introduced to better manage the customer flow. Branches are opening at 09:00 with a limited num- ber of persons allowed to ensure safe physical distanc- ing, with masks required to be worn at all times. A 'Pri- ority Hour' has been rein- troduced for customers aged 60+ and EU Disability Card holders from Monday to Fri- day, between 09:00 to 10:00. Extended opening hours are now being offered Mon- day to Friday till 19:00 by appointment only and, for the better convenience of customers, these can be set through the Bank's website. During these extended hours, branches are offering non-cash related services including home loan quota- tions and investment servic- es through online meetings. For the latest updates relat- ing to the COVID-19 meas- ures please visit apsbank. com.mt/covid-19-informa- tion-page and the opening hours are available here. Steward Health Care Malta doubles PCR rapid testing capacity to cater for rising COVID-19 numbers STEWARD Health Care Mal- ta (SHCM) has increased its COVID-19 testing capacity in the laboratory of Gozo Gener- al Hospital (GGH), through the introduction of a second rapid PCR analyser. The introduction of extra rapid testing capacity enables admitted patients in Gozo to be screened for COVID-19 more quickly, ensuring a faster turnaround and efficient and safer bed management. The new equipment allows the hos- pital to better sustain normal operational levels and allows SHCM to concentrate the fo- cus of its activities to help the communities it serves to fight the virus. "Our ability to treat patients quickly and with the latest equipment has completely changed the way we serve our community. We are increasing- ly confident of combatting the fight against COVID-19 thanks to our increased preparedness and we are now better placed to help the local communities affected by the pandemic to get through this difficult time," said Mr Joseph Fenech, Execu- tive Director of the Gozo Gen- eral Hospital. SHCM is confident that the long-term investments re- flected in beds, equipment and infrastructural changes, including the second rapid PCR analyser, and practices implemented at GGH and Ka- rin Grech Hospital (KGH) will help protect the communities they serve, especially the vul- nerable. SHCM has invested directly in additional beds and equipment to combat the pan- demic, including 25 ventilators and a significant oxygen reser- voir in Gozo, to help save lives in the communities it serves. With the support of Steward's international healthcare net- work, SHCM is working hard to increase its capacity to treat patients and improve access to its services. Dr Nadine Delicata, President of Steward Health Care Malta said: "SHCM is working in- cessantly, in conjunction with Malta's health authorities, to ensure that the public is pro- tected and patients are treat- ed with the highest level and quality of care possible, while safeguarding both staff and pa- tients. We are working hand- in-hand with all stakehold- ers to promote the country's vaccination programme and both Karin Grech and Gozo General Hospitals are helping in the preparation and admin- istration of booster doses to the general public. In addition, GGH is playing a key role in rolling out the first doses for Gozitan children, aged five to eleven, as part of the national vaccination programme." Dr Delicata said that SHCM had been planning for this type of event and would be increas- ing its focus on countering the recent rise in COVID-19 cases. "Steward Health Care Malta is dedicated to providing quality medical services to its patients and communities, particular- ly in the face of major health threats like the Omicron vari- ant. Over the last years we have increased investment in our fa- cilities to fight COVID-19 and been working alongside our international network to bring the best treatments and care to our hospitals to counter the vi- rus. Our systematic, proactive and dedicated approach means that we are prepared for a po- tential increase in coronavirus cases exactly like this," said Dr Delicata. As part of a large internation- al health care system, Steward's experience and expertise has been of direct benefit to the communities served by SHCM. In Gozo, Steward's interna- tional supply chain allowed SHCM to secure an unprece- dented 25 ventilator units to bolster Gozo General Hospital (GGH)'s pandemic response, which also included an expan- sion of the hospital's capacity by an additional 120 beds as well as a COVID-19-adapted Emergency Department. To protect its most vulner- able patients, in April 2020 SHCM relocated 70 elderly hospital residents to an alter- native facility subject to strin- gent policies and procedures. This timely decision prevented transmission of COVID-19 to this vulnerable section of soci- ety; the nursing home facility at Downtown has not had a single COVID-19 death or outbreak since it was established. "Everyone needs to remain vigilant and observe public health measures in our efforts to reduce as much as possible the number of COVID-19 cases in our communities," Dr Deli- cata concluded.