LETTERS | Sunday, 15 July 2007
Fiona Avgerinou, Communications Co-ordinator,
Parliamentary Secretery for Health, the Elderly and Community Care
I refer to the article “Elderly dying of heat – does it have to be literal to shock?” carried in the Sunday edition of your paper of 8 July 2007.
I will refrain from going into the merits of the case in question since this has been the subject of a number of statements issued by this office. However allow me to clarify, for the benefit of your readers, the following points:
1. Your reporter comments on the “gross unfairness of the discrimination taking place within the same retirement home, where other residents live in much more modern halls”. It is a well-known fact that this government has embarked upon an extensive programme of refurbishment at St Vincent de Paul which includes also the demolition and rebuilding of a number of wards. Undoubtedly, once complete, the new wards offer a modern and aesthetically pleasing environment but your readers can rest assured that the care offered is the same to all residents, in whichever ward they may be. In fact, although earmarked for extensive refurbishment, a number of wards were and are still being equipped with air-conditioning and other necessities for the comfort of the residents until they are also refurbished to the standard mentioned above. It is pertinent to point out that whilst such projects are ongoing the number of residents at SVPR remains the same and the residence continues to function on a daily basis. The only solution to eliminate the so-called “discrimination” mentioned by your reporter would be to close down the residence and affect the required refurbishment at one go – a solution that is impossible given the number of elderly, more than 1,000 that reside there. This of course entails taking difficult decisions – such as the one taken upon completion of the recently inaugurated Mother Theresa Block. The residents who currently occupy these wards were moved out of another block that offers 150 beds that could have been used to accommodate a similar number of elderly on our waiting lists. Undoubtedly this was the easiest and most popular decision; however we opted to immediately take in hand the necessary works to refurbish this block. This decision was taken in spite of the continuous pressure the Department is under to provide long-term care beds even though space is available in private and Church facilities.
2. The report in question also alleges that the Parliamentary Secretary “did not delve much into the alleged heat fatalities” and that she “did not even comment on Tuesday” when contacted by your newspaper. This is not factually correct since the Parliamentary Secretary explained that she had not, as yet, seen the statement issued by the Opposition and was not, therefore, in a position to comment. She also promised that a written reaction would be issued on the same day. This was in fact sent to your newsroom at 19.50 hrs although the article states it was received the next day.
3. Allow me also to correct a error of perception stated by Mr Paul Pace, President of the MUMN, as reported in the same article. He allegedly claims that “… there was a breakdown in the air-conditioning system in many wards at St Vincent de Paul …”
This statement is not correct in that only one system was undergoing repairs at the time whereas four other systems are being replaced with an investment of Lm 150,000. Thus five wards that have air-conditioning systems were, unfortunately, without this service.
This Government strongly believes that only the best will do for our elderly population and is continuously striving towards this aim. However projects of a capital nature require a reasonable amount of time to be concluded.
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