New Mental Health Hospital Near Mater Dei In ‘Coming Years’, Clyde Caruana Promises
A new psychiatric hospital offering acute care to people with mental health problems will be built near Mater Dei in the “coming years”, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana promised in his 2023 Budget speech.
Plans for a new mental health hospital to complement Mount Carmel have long been in the works and were mentioned in the PL’s 2017 and 2022 manifestos.
In 2018, Health Minister Chris Fearne said the building will have around 100 beds and be finalised by 2025.
Meanwhile, Mount Carmel would be repurposed into an institution for elderly patients who require long-term specialised mental health care.
Health Minister Chris Fearne
However, updates have been few and far between.
“In the coming years, we will build a new acute psychiatric care hospital near Mater Dei to offer specialised services that complement those offered by Mount Carmel,” Caruana said in his Budget speech this week, confirming the government intends to finance the project through EU funds.
Meanwhile, the minister confirmed plans to set up a therapeutic centre for people with both mental health and addiction problems, as well as a Recovery and Welfare Academy to help reduce mental health stigma within the health sector.
Cover photo: Left: A yard at Mount Carmel, Right: Finance Minister Clyde Caruana
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