Watch: San Vincenz Patient Begs For Air After Carer Manhandles Him On Bed
Shocking footage has emerged of a carer at the St Vincent De Paule long-term care facility manhandling an elderly patient in his bed.
In the video, which is believed to have been taken in recent days at St Joseph Ward 2, the carer can be seen manhandling the patient, who has been identified as Leonard Portelli, a well-known artist.
The carer can be seen grabbing Portelli’s arms and pushing him down into his bed as someone asks, off camera, what he is doing.
“Please leave me alone,” the patient shouts out as the carer holds his hands to his chest.
Still touching the patient, the carer asks him what he wants to which the patient responds that “I want to breathe”. Another person, believed to be another carer, can be heard telling Portelli to keep quiet but the patient begs for air again.
The carer then drags him to a seated position, says “That’s all” and walks off.
View this post on Instagram
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Senior Citizens and Active Aging confirmed with Lovin Malta that an internal preliminary investigation is underway at St Vincent de Paule while police are also investigating and a magisterial inquiry has been opened.
Commissioner for the Elderly Prof Godfrey La Ferla has also been informed of the case, as has Healthmark CEO Charlotte Sant Portanier since both carers had been recruited from the health service provider.
The carer and his colleague cannot be allocated to SVDP until further notice.
SVDP CEO Josianne Cutajar told Lovin Malta that no incident report had been filed and that she was first informed of the case when police contacted her this morning, after which the facility immediately set up its own internal investigation.
She said that early indications are that the incident occurred soon after lunchtime but that she doesn’t yet have information on what led to the aggressive behaviour. However, she said the video shows the carer used excessive and rough force to handle the patient, which is why he and his colleague have been suspended from the facility.
A police spokesperson confirmed that investigations are underway and a magisterial inquiry has been opened.
What do you make of this footage?
READ NEXT: Maltese Doctors And Patients Distraught After Online Prescriptions For Medical Cannabis Suddenly Not Accepted
