Tue Sep 10 14:23:00 UTC 2024: ## Politicians Blamed for Incitement After Death at Mater Dei
Health Minister JoEtienne Abela has accused politicians and influential individuals of inciting public anger towards hospital staff following the death of Stephen Mangion at Mater Dei Hospital.
A magisterial inquiry concluded that medical staff were not at fault in Mangion’s death, which occurred in the hospital’s emergency waiting room last month. The inquiry found that Mangion died from an aortic dissection and that he delayed seeking medical attention for 15 hours despite experiencing symptoms.
However, Abela pointed to the barrage of online abuse directed at hospital staff following the incident. He condemned those who “rode on the bandwagon of this lie,” arguing that their narratives fueled public anger and insults towards medical professionals.
While Abela refrained from naming specific politicians, he hinted at individuals like Jason Azzopardi, Adrian Delia, Bernard Grech and Ian Vassallo Hagi, calling for them to take responsibility and apologize for their actions.
Abela emphasized the toll this abuse has taken on hospital staff morale, particularly at the emergency department, and called for constructive criticism of the healthcare system instead of using tragedies for political gain.
The minister outlined ongoing efforts to improve the healthcare system, including the recent recruitment of 40 new nurses and plans to introduce a new triaging system where patients are initially examined by a consultant. However, he expressed frustration with the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) for resisting this change.
The investigation into Mangion’s death remains open. A ministerial inquiry is underway to investigate whether system upgrades are necessary to prevent similar deaths.
First Piper 