€24 million rehabilitates 1000 bed St Luke’s Hospital

Trying to justify its deal with Dr Frank Portelli over the acquisition of 120 bed St Philip Hospital, the PN government is saying that rehabilitating St Luke’s Hospital would have cost much more than €12 million. But plans by the Foundation for Medical Sciences and Services (FMSS) show that €24 million would have covered the total rehabilitation and refurbishment of the 1000 bed St Luke’s Hospital, most of which now lies unused and abandoned at Gwardamangia.

The St Philip’s Hospital lease agreement covers a period of eight years at a rent of €12.4 million. The government has reserved an option to buy at any time between the third and eight year and part of the rent paid would go to a price established at the time of the agreement. The actual purchase price of St Philips Hospital, should government decide to buy the hospital, varies from around € 14 million to € 22 million.

In the early 90s Ann Noble Architects had prepared a €24 million major refurbishment of the 1000 bed St Luke’s Hospital, “including a complete upgrading of the services infrastructure, a rationalisation and relocation of departments, and upgrading of all existing facilities over a five year period, while the hospital continued to function. Development control plan and phasing, design and implementation of Phase 1 which included wards, A & E Department, Pharmacy, three new substations and services lifts.”

The St Luke’s Refurbishment Committee had been set up and the first phase comprising the total refurbishment of three wards was carried out for €1,000,000.

The price being paid for the lease/purchase agreement of the 120 bed St Philip’s Hospital ranging from €12 million to €22 million would have long way to refurbish almost all of the 1000 bed St Luke’s Hospital.