Mount Carmel Patient In Intensive Care After Escape And Injury In Valletta
A patient from Mount Carmel Hospital is in intensive care after escaping the psychiatric facility on Monday and later being found in Valletta with multiple injuries.
As reported by Times of Malta, a 37-year-old man from Mosta, left the hospital unnoticed and managed to get to Valletta, where he was then found to have multiple injuries to his spine and ribs.
He was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital and placed in intensive care, as police and internal investigations into the incident have been launched.
A spokesperson for Mount Carmel Hospital confirmed that the patient had been permitted to walk around the hospital grounds unsupervised.
An anonymous friend of the patient told Times of Malta that when he was first admitted to the mental health hospital, he had already attempted to take his own life twice since February.
He was only allowed to leave Mount Carmel Hospital when he was considered to be “in a good place,” and even then, only under the supervision of a family member or friend. Each time, someone was required to check him out and back in upon their return.
According to a close friend, concerns were raised on Monday when they contacted the hospital after noticing the patient’s condition had “regressed.” “They told us he was just strolling around the garden,” the friend said.
After the call, the patient’s father went to visit him, only to discover he was no longer there.
“We want to understand how he managed to leave when he was supposed to be under supervision. Will the authorities be opening an inquiry into this?” the friend asked.
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