Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/897139
maltatoday SUNDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2017 News 9 MASSIMO COSTA THE Nationalist Party has de- manded the health minister to explain why he didn't disclose a Mount Carmel patient's death from Legionella weeks ago. It was very worrying that the government had tried to hide that fact that a patient at Mount Carmel hospital had died of Le- gionella, and instead carried on with 'business as usual', the Op- position said. "This is a serious case, and we are insisting that all facts relat- ed to it be established. Deputy Prime Minister and Health Min- ister Chris Fearne has to explain why he chose to hide this case, which was only made public through the media." The Opposition insisted that a magisterial inquiry be under- taken to investigate what lead to the patient contracting and dying from the disease. Respon- sibility for what happened had to be taken. "It was also very concerning that the patient died after catch- ing the disease through the hos- pital's water system, which other patients, as well as hospital em- ployees, make use of. "These individuals, who on a daily basis use the same water which led to the patient's death, are being placed at risk." The death of the middle-aged patient at Mount Carmel, which happened a number of weeks ago, was only disclosed in a Times of Malta report earlier this week. The Legionella bacterium is found naturally in freshwater environments. However, it can become a health threat when it grows and spreads in places such as showers or air-conditioning units. It can lead to serious respira- tory disease, for which people over 50, smokers, and those with chronic lung disease, a weak im- mune system or other underly- ing illnesses, are at an increased risk. Sources said the man, in his 50s, was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital complaining of short- ness of breath. He died in the Intensive Therapy Unit after days battling for his life. Sources close to the mental health hospital said it was a well-known fact that the water system at Mount Carmel was "primitive" and seemed "like it belonged to the Middle Ages". "We all know in what condi- tions the patients here are kept. Even the staff is at risk," one source said. The Health Ministry con- firmed the discovery of legionel- la bacteria at the hospital but at- tempted to minimise alarm by stating that "immediate action had been taken". A spokeswoman said the pa- tient was transferred from Mount Carmel to Mater Dei Hospital after suffering short- ness of breath and that tests for legionella were positive. Sources said an internal inves- tigation had concluded that the patient contracted the disease from the showers, but this was not confirmed by the ministry. "The administration at Mount Carmel Hospital conducted a review of the wards concerned and took immediate action to eliminate any possible source," the ministry spokeswoman said. Last year, sections of the new Parliament building in Val- letta had to be closed off after legionella bacteria were found during routine tests on the showers. Earlier this year, traces of le- gionella were found in the hand basin of a men's toilet at the President's Palace in Valletta, which hosted the ministerial meetings during Malta's presi- dency of the EU. PN requests magisterial inquiry on Mount Carmel Legionella death away by a system yet at its heart ble situation." Zerafa is seeking that policy-mak- ers allow a decision on permanency to be made after 24 months in fos- ter care. The wording of the Child Protection Act in fact only suggests that such a decision be "considered", rather than effectively taken. "While social workers do have the opportunity to make a decision, they often have various cases at a time due to the lack of social workers. Because of this, social workers are often not too familiar with the case and so can- not make the decision. "This creates a lot of instability for the children, which leaves its mark on the child's. These children are liv- ing on ever shifting ground." Zerafa also insisted that while there is a lack of foster carers, "the system doesn't encourage people to become foster carers." "People often ask, 'Does the situ- ation ever settle down?' If we could say yes, there would be more peo- ple interested in becoming foster parents. I think that if people knew that the system will provide for the children to settle down, it would make the biggest difference," Zerafa insisted. At the International Foster Care Organisation's conference where Zerafa has just presented her views on the need for permanence in foster children's lives, the President of the Republic Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca echoes her concerns. "We must remember that each de- cision which is taken, regarding the well-being of our children, has direct impact on the overall well-being of our communities, and our societies too. We must also remember that children's rights are, fundamentally, human rights," Coleiro Preca said. "Our children are individuals with a voice, and their voices must be heard," she said. "Unfortunately, we are far from being able to confidently state that all our children are really being safeguarded, at every stage of their journey through care." mpace@mediatoday.com.mt Social worker Daniella Zerafa has fostered three children of her own, but says the system is fraught with problems that affect permanency for children in care PHOTO JAMES BIANCHI