Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544097
mt SURVEY 11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 MARCH 2026 NEWS lived reality: What an email Hospital really tells us Once again, we don't seem to be doing it right though. The closures caused aggravation in staff and patients as they felt they were not prepared for this transition. Other points I raised were addressed in administrative terms. The Podiatry Unit has been relocated to a safe area, after I pointed it out. A land- scaping tender is expected soon. A barrier has been in- stalled at the back gate, with further works pending design completion. Planning language vs lived experience On patient care, Camilleri emphasised multidisciplinary teams, ongoing recruitment and therapy tailored to individ- ual care plans. She rejected the suggestion that large numbers of patients are idle, stating that structured activities take place daily. The information I have is very different. What stands out most in this exchange is not disagreement over facts but a gap between planning language and lived experience. Camilleri's response was filled with phrases such as "modern- isation programme", "phased renewal", "structured clini- cal…", and "upgrades". This is institutional management lan- guage. My questions, by contrast, were rooted in practical real- ities: Toilets, gardens, nurse stations, activities and safety. Both perspectives are legit- imate. But when they collide, the result can feel unsatisfying to the public. Promises of fu- ture tenders and phased works do not always reassure fami- lies and patients worried about conditions today. Referenc- es to programmes, strategies, road maps, policies and frame- works do not automatically an- swer whether a ward currently meets acceptable standards. One positive aspect of the exchange is that it happened openly, with journalists copied into the correspondence. That decision reflects a recognition that mental health services must be accountable not only to administrators, politicians and clinicians but also to the people using the service and the public. Mount Carmel Hospital re- mains one of Malta's oldest healthcare institutions. Even with ongoing upgrades, it was not designed according to cur- rent mental health principles. International best practice increasingly favours smaller community-based facilities rather than large institutional settings. Malta has taken steps in this direction, but Mount Carmel continues to carry a heavy share of the national workload. This reality makes refurbish- ment both necessary and yet insufficient. Renovating wards can improve dignity and safety, but true reform requires im- proved and sustained invest- ment in community services, professional staffing and pre- ventive care. Add to this the fact of people being abandoned in the system because there is no adequate place to host them—an incredible thing to say with all the money that we put into social and health ser- vices. Without that broader trans- formation, Mount Carmel Hospital risks remaining un- der pressure regardless of how many upgrades are completed. It is understandable that ad- ministrators wish to defend the work being done. Mental health reform in Mal- ta will succeed only if poli- cymakers, professionals, civil society, administrators and mental health survivors and their families work togeth- er rather than talk past one another. Ultimately, the true measure of progress at Mount Carmel will not be found in emails or committee meetings but in the lived experience of patients and staff. The questions that matter most are these: Do wards feel safe and dignified? Do patients receive meaningful therapy? Are outdoor spaces welcoming and accessible? Do staff have the resources they need? Are persons with mental health and their families and friends involved in the care plan? The recent exchange has helped clarify where things stand. The next step is ensur- ing that the promises described in official replies translate into visible improvements on the ground. Mount Carmel Hospital has been waiting for renewal for decades. Patients and families will judge progress not by plans alone, but by results they can see and feel. Roseanne Camilleri's respon- siveness and the health min- ister's clear commitment to mental health are encouraging signs. I believe some posts need new people, but that is clearly not my call. And on a final note, I encour- age people to keep using these inpatient services where and when necessary. The majority of staff mean well; this at least gives me serenity. If you are passing through a difficult period, you can re- quest assistance from the fol- lowing services: Support line 179 (FSWS), 1770 (Richmond Foundation), Olli chat or Mental Health Helpline 1579. Mount Carmel Hospital (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) Ombudsman finds TM banner permit procedures fall foul of good administration principles THE Office of the Ombuds- man has found that Transport Malta failed to follow the prin- ciples of good administration in its handling of permit appli- cations for a political banner submitted by Momentum. Matthew Agius, executive member of Momentum, said the case highlighted the need for transparent and account- able procedures within pub- lic authorities, "particularly where decisions impact politi- cal expression and equal treat- ment." "This is even more seri- ous when one considers that we currently see Malta be- ing overtaken by continuous government propaganda not just on billboards but all over street furniture across Malta," he added. The finding followed a for- mal complaint by Momentum over restrictions placed on its street banner permit applica- tions. The Ombudsman found that Transport Malta had failed to clearly communicate the applicable procedures and had not responded to or noti- fied the applicant of a decision. Last October, Momentum asked the Ombudsman to investigate Transport Malta after the authority failed, for more than two months, to is- sue or decide on a banner per- mit for an event. Despite submitting all docu- ments, photos and forms, and sending repeated follow-ups, Transport Malta gave contra- dictory instructions, refused to explain its rules, and then stopped replying altogether, Momentum had said. These failures were found to run counter to core princi- ples of good administration, including transparency, ac- countability, efficiency, and responsiveness, they said. The case was classified as an instance of maladministration under Article 22(b) and (d) of the Ombudsman Act, and the complainant was found to have suffered an injustice as a result. The Ombudsman issued a series of recommendations to Transport Malta, including the establishment of a clear and unified policy on banner permits, the introduction of a standard application form, the development of an online ap- plication system, and a formal obligation to communicate de- cisions to applicants together with the reasons behind them. Transport Malta was also recommended to identify and publish designated sites where temporary banners may be in- stalled, with the Ombudsman stressing that this information should be publicly accessible to ensure fairness for all appli- cants. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt