Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/863487
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 AUGUST 2017 16 Opinion As of the 22 nd of August 2017, the service given at the Orthotics and Prosthetics Unit will become a regular weekly service, with a team of professionals seeing patients from Monday to Saturday. The staff complement will increase, and more of the fittings and limbs will be produced in Malta, decreasing waiting times and enabling a much more effective service. Works on a new OPU premises are also ongoing and are set to be completed by the second week of September. The new facility, located to the right of the St Luke's car park, will give staff members and patients a much better place to work and receive care, and contrast greatly to the current environment being used. Once the physical migration to the new facilities takes place, the team will then begin to assess all amputees in Malta and Gozo to discuss and revise a plan to suit patients' individual needs, thus ensuring a smooth transition for patients with devices supplied from the currents supplier to that used by MCOP. Devices which are deemed to be below standard will be replaced with new devices at no added cost to the patient. To this end, new medical equipment has also been procured. Patients are advised to keep attending their appointments as normal until the 13 th of September when the service will migrate to the new premises. More information will be available on the VGH website and communicated directly to patients. vitalshealthcare.com