Country members/Malta/News
News from Malta
September 2008
(i) National General Election: In March 2008 the Malta had its general Election and the health sector has a new system introduced in the running of the Ministry. A new Health minister was appointed with 2 perminant secretaries. 5 new directors were appointed in the health and elderly and community sectors. Since the elections various meeting and visits to the hospital sites were organised for the health minister to visit. Currently the health sector is undergoing many changes because in Novemember 2007 the migration to the nes state of the art acute hospital, Mater Dei, the sectors of rehabilitation and primary / community care were not being upgraded in parellel with this 15 year project. Tertiary care has been moving in line with acute care development and since population that mostly use these services are elderly a large proportion are being admitted from acute to tertairy care. The full spectrum of health service is not functioning to provide a smooth transition for the patient and the necessary support is lacking. The Malta Assocation of Occupational Therapists is preparing to meet with the Minister in view of the above.
(ii) Newly graduates: In June 2009 newly OT graduates shall complete their 4 year course. The successful candidates after registering with the Council of Professions Complementary to Medicine will have the opportunity to be emplyed within the civil service since the capcity building exercise presented to higher authorities shows the need for more OTs to be employed.
(iii) A New Manager for OT services: Ms. Joanna Chetcuti who was in previou years the president of the Malta Association of Occupationa Therapy is the current manager for OT in Malta after the retiremnet of Mr. Joe Busuttil who was one of the pioneers in the foundation of OT in Malta. For his reitrement in the summer of 2006 the MAOT committee had organised a surprise party whereby the majority of therapists attended this event. Tokens to Mr. Busuttil were presented to him on behalf of all the therapists, therapy assistants and studentsby the present of that year Ms. Joanna Chetcuti.
(iv) OT Vision Plan Meeting and Action Plan for 2008 - 2013: Ms. Joanna Chetcuti in conjunction with Mr. Paul Micallef (Consultant Staff Training / Re-training and Psychologist for the Minitry for Social Policy organised a 3 day compulsary meeting for therpists, therapy aides and students. The aim of this was meeting was to create a purposeful direction to the managment of OT services in Malta and Gozo and to oUtline the necessary plans for the next 5 years.
(v) Local work by MAOT: In July 2008 the MAOT committe held its interim annual meeting were by its memebrs were updated with information through reports implicating the work performed in the first year since the elecetion for the 2 year term 2007 - 2009. The association is focusing to improved their network with local assocation of allied health prfeossionald and the medical assocation and affiliate its with local NGO's. Registering of the assocaiton is in process since the lauch of the NGO act in 2007.
August 2007
1. The Malta Association of Ocupational Therapists held its Bi-Annual General Meeting on the 13th of July. Elections for the new Executive committee were held. The newly elected Executive Committee will serve a term of office from 2007-2009. The new executive ist
President: Ms.Stephanie Vella
Vice-President: Mr.Demis Cachia
Secretary: Ms. Claire Busuttil
Assistant Secretary: Ms. Charmaine Mifsud
Treasurer: Ms. Roberta Sultana
Members: Ms. Elena Abela, Ms. Thersienne Mizzi, Ms. Maria Daniela Farrugia
The committee has had its first meeting and various sub-committees were formed and a plan of activites has been created for the term.
2. The new state of the art hospital 'Mater Dei' was opened on the 29th of June, 2007. The plan for the big move is to take place in stages. First the administrative operations have already moved. The out-patients departments are the next phase and the Occupationatl Therapy Department being one of the first departments to start its services in the new setting. At present this is an exciting and challenging time for the profession.
3. Zammit Clapp Hospital which was a geriatiric rehabiltation unit will become a bigger rehabiltation center. The clients in this new rehabiltation center are a mixture of young people, adults and seniors. The current oncology hospital move to the Zammit Clapp Hospital.
4. A group of new occupational therapy students will graduate from the University of Malta. The successful students will immeediately be employed because of the increased need of occupational therpists with multiple changes occuring in the local health system and service delivery.
5. A huge party was organised for the retirment of the manager Mr. Joe. Bussuttil. He was very surprised with all the preparation and the well attended party. It was all kept a secret till the time of the party which was a huge success. Ms. Joanna Chetcuti is currently the acting manager. Hopefully a new manager will soon be appointed
Past issues of our OT journal can be accessed on the website. Anyone interested in sending articles, book reviews, reports etc can do so by forwarding an attachment to Rene Mifsud on the following e-mail address: rene.mifsud@edu.um.mt