The Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, in a statement this afternoon, made reference to some reports issued on the media today regarding Minister Chris Cardona’s address in Parliament on Wednesday.
The Minister, who had been replying to a Parliamentary Question, had said that what had been signed so far was a Memorandum of Understanding, media reported.
The Ministry said that it would like to make the following clarifications;
“The document signed in Gozo on the 18th of March 2015 between Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry (Barts), Queen Mary University of London and the Government of Malta represented by Evarist Bartolo, Konrad Mizzi, Chris Cardona, Chris Fearne and ME Chairman Dr Mario Vella is a fully executed final contract between Barts and the Government,” the Ministry said.
“The contract provides for commitments and obligations from both sides. Some obligations of the Government, such as clinical placements for students, can be shared – with the approval of Barts – with the private sector once an investor is selected for the running of the Gozo Hospital and of St Luke’s Hospital.”
“The Barts Medical School will be constructed on the precincts of the Gozo General Hospital. The lease agreement has already been discussed and agreed to between the parties and will be signed when the premises are completed,” the Ministry concluded.
2 Comments To "Agreement signed with Barts is a fully executed final contract – Government"
#1 Comment By Mick Cundy On April 3, 2015 @ 9:25 am
I still ask why do business with a group that has been placed into Special Measures in the UK because of its failures?
The largest hospital trust in England is under special measures after inspectors uncovered an array of serious problems at one of its hospitals, including poor A&E care, a lack of staff, poor morale and a culture of bullying and harassment.
They also found patients facing long waits for treatment, some not receiving painkillers when they needed them, over-stretched employees, an over-reliance on agency staff, substandard treatment of terminally ill patients and too little priority given to patient safety.
Failings at one of their hospitals, Whipps Cross hospital, included the deaths of two unborn babies, a new mum and a child soon after birth, among 208 serious incidents last year.
Incredibly, some patients were forced to wait more than 10 hours for food and water.
There are also delays across the trust for cancer patients and its rising £93million deficit.
#2 Comment By Carmel On April 3, 2015 @ 11:47 am
Very well said Mick !!