Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/224217
5 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2013 Rooms at Mount Carmel Hospital left in dilapidated state Exposed sink lines, broken tiles and holes in the wall: 'the smoking area' A patient's room at Mt Carmel's Hospital female ward MIRIAM DALLI ROOMS taken up by female residents at Mount Carmel Hospital are in a state of neglect, with exposed sink lines, patched up walls, torn bedcovers, faded curtains and rusting furniture. Despite being clean and run by dedicated healthcare workers, the environment is shabby and a feeling of despair emanates through the walls. While this does not reflect the state of the whole of the hospital, as through the years there have been maintenance and upgrading works, there are areas that seem to have been abandoned – or which were never given priority. MaltaToday was given access to a ward accommodating female patients. But walking along this particular floor, one immediately gets the feeling that little had changed over the years. A common area and a dining room situated on this floor have undergone refurbishment, in a bid to spruce up the environment, making it more welcoming. The refurbishment was undertaken by a number of volunteers led by Michelle Muscat, the Prime Minister's wife. The refurbishment of the rooms included plastering, wall painting and the donations of sofas, tables and chairs and curtains. Pictures of the original state of the rooms revealed that, while kept clean, they were in a state of neglect with torn sofas, window blinds covered in mould and painting coming off the walls. Accompanied by a number of ministers' wives and other women who work within the various ministries, Muscat said she wanted to make good use of her position by pushing forward initiatives which serve to help others. "When we are taken around to visit these places, we are always shown the new parts where everything is in good state and the environment is lively. But when you look beyond you see that not everywhere is like that," Muscat said. She insisted that every little help counted, when asked why volunteers and donations were needed to help with the up keeping of the state-run hospital. "Funds were not being spent according to priority and the new administration has inherited a hospital with problems. Right now, every little help counts and if we can do something to make the residents' lives better, why shouldn't we?" Muscat said. A fundraiser was also organised to help buy heaters and blankets for the same ward. Mount Carmel Hospital, a hospital for mental health sufferers, is currently operating at an €8 million deficit while providing services to a total of 533 patients. The hospital's patients can be divided into two categories: those who have been residing at the hospital for several years – some for 30 and even 40 years – and those who are admitted for between two and three weeks. The majority of the latter patients would be suffering from schizophrenia or severe depression. The previous administration had started constructing a new female ward that would have provided the patients with a better environment. But bad planning left it without sanitary facilities and electrical points. The refurbished common room The works have now been halted, pending an inquiry. A new mental health law, launched under the previous administration, will be implemented later on this year. But one thing that requires further fighting is the stigma of mental health patients. According to healthcare pro- fessionals, patients refuse to let their relatives or work colleagues know that they are receiving care, for fear of being labelled or judged. According to workers at Mt Carmel Hospital, the situation was to the point that patients would have no one visiting them or sending flowers. "There is always a card or a vase with flowers sitting on the bedside or people walking around the corridors when you enter rooms at Mater Dei Hospital. But here it is different. Some of the patients refuse to let those around them know where they are," one worker told MaltaToday. SIMPLE, SECURE AND FLEXIBLE Interest payable on maturity and is fixed for the entire duration of the 5 year Term. EURO TERM DEPOSIT ACCOUNT 3.25% p.a.* psbank facebook.com/a LIMITED OFFER 2122 6644