Dr Nadine Delicata – Executive Director and President of Steward Health Care Malta (third from left), Joseph Fenech – Executive Director of Gozo General Hospital (fourth from left) and James Grima – Director of Facilities Management at Steward Malta (first from right) together with medical staff

Steward Health Care Malta has completed an extensive upgrade project of the emergency and outpatients departments at the Gozo General Hospital, as part of its ongoing investment programme in its hospitals.

Despite the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the management of Steward Malta embarked on an ambitious refurbishment of these two departments which see thousands of patients every year. The facilities, equipment and consultation rooms have all been upgraded so as to provide better quality of care and a safer environment for patients and staff. The number of clinics has also been increased, allowing for additional services to be provided and improving waiting times.

“In early 2020, we made significant changes to the hospital, so as to be able to cope with the pandemic. However the work did not stop there. Work continued throughout the year and in the first month of 2021 so that we can now offer better emergency and outpatients services to all those who use the Gozo hospital,” said Dr Nadine Delicata, Executive Director and President of Steward Health Care Malta.

Whilst the upgrade works were taking place in the hospital, the outpatients’ services were being offered from the nearby Barts Medical School campus, so that the operations of the hospital would not be interrupted. Dr Delicata thanked the management of Queen Mary University of London (Malta) for providing their support during this period.

“Today all hospital services are once again operational from the hospital. The public is now being cared for in a more pleasant environment, which is safer for both staff and patients, for the benefit of all those who use the hospital’s services,” she said.

A few months ago, the medical gases infrastructure at the Gozo General Hospital was upgraded. This included the replacement of the main plant that provides the hospital with vacuum, medical air and oxygen. The set-up of a 20,000-litre oxygen reservoir now ensures an autonomous and continued supply of oxygen for a period of four to six weeks. This investment was carried out enable a more sustainable supply of oxygen to patients, also in anticipation of increased demand due to COVID-19 and the seasonal influenza.

Earlier in 2020, Steward Malta expanded the Gozo General Hospital’s capacity by an additional 120 beds for COVID-19, including the possibility to flex up to 25 COVID-19 ICU beds. Moreover, Steward Malta increased the number of ventilators in the hospital by  an unprecedented 25 units, thanks to Steward’s international supply chain.