The PN on Friday raised concerns over the state of Malta’s mental health services, saying that Mount Carmel Hospital has reached full occupancy, while the waiting list for essential mental health care continues to grow.
PN MPs Ian Vassallo and Stephen Spiteri held a press conference in front of the hospital, and warned that delays in treatment are leaving vulnerable individuals without the support they need.
Vassallo said that the mental health sector in Mt Carmel is in a “crisis” as government failed to invest in the hospital.
He said that the hospital is at full occupancy, and the patients are not receiving the care they deserve, while workers at the hospital are working extra, while having to pay less individual attention.
“We have reached a point where people who are referred by other hospitals, and are seeking help, are not being given immediate attention as there’s no place for them,” Vassallo said.
He continued that the government boasted it would renovate Mr Carmel, open a new mental health hospital, yet these promises were thrown out.
“Imagine that someone from your family cannot get the personalised help they need because there is no space at the hospital,” Vassallo said, adding that patients’ families are also being affected.
Vassallo said that government should have also invested in better quality medicine for mental health treatment on the formulary, yet it squandered money to Vitals, and were not given anything in return, failing to add higher quality medicine in the government formulary.
He said that the PN has spoken about mental health proposals such as building a new mental health hospital close to Mater Dei, as well as investing in NGO mental health services in community homes.
Vassallo said that professionals have been “begging” for a place where they can provide primary care services for those suffering with mental health problems.
Instead, government has failed to open the Paola Southern Hub, plans for a Northern Hub were thrown out, and the Rabat Health Centre, which has been closed for renovations supposedly for a few months, has been closed for a year now.
“The mental health in our country has gone backwards. Now, patients find closed doors when they seek help,” he said.
Vassallo said that the PN has presented its proposals to government, and will be there for the patient, the families and the professionals.
Spiteri said that the patients of Mt Carmel do not deserve such a mediocre hospital, which lacks investment and is negatively affecting the quality and care of mental health services.
He said that there are long waiting lists for patients to even see a psychiatrist, and government is not investing in the mental health of youths. Spiteri also said that there the number of deaths related to mental health problems have increased significantly.
The PN has long told government that Malta is not a one-hospital country, and the consequences of failing to build another hospital are being seen, after government made a failed partnership with a private company, he said.
Spiteri said that the mental health sector also needs an emergency unit, and it is “shameful” that services such as the Acute Psychiatric Unit have been stopped, as these could save lives due to serious illnesses which bring about mental health problems.
He said that this investment must be a priority, and a mental health hospital must be built next to Mater Dei, as many persons struggling with mental health often have other physical ailments, and being next to a mental health hospital provides more assurances.
Spiteri also said that there has been an increase in mental health problems due to drug abuse.
He said that he asked a parliamentary question on how many Mt Carmel patients are struggling with mental health problems due to drug abuse. The answer was that 20% of patients have a “dual diagnosis” of mental health illnesses due to drug abuse.
Spiteri said that the treatment for these patients should not be carried out at Mt Carmel, but in a specialised centre which provides rehabilitation, for true treatment and care.
He continued that government must not “play” with mental health medicine, and they need to be of quality, and not at the detriment of the patient.
Spiteri said that mental health remains a priority for the PN, to ensure a positive environment for patients, families and professionals working in the sector.
He said that the PN has a plan, and is studying just and serious proposals which could lead to a just society.