St Philip's Hospital
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| St Philip's Hospital | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Santa Venera, Malta |
| Coordinates | 35°53′35″N 14°28′56″E / 35.89306°N 14.48222°E |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | No |
| Beds | 100 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1993 |
| Links | |
| Website | stphilips.com.mt |
| Lists | Hospitals in Malta |
St Philip's Hospital was a 100-bed private medical facility located in Santa Venera, Malta that operated from 1995 to 2012. It was a specialized healthcare center primarily catering to medical tourists, the hospital has since become an abandoned.
Financial difficulties and closure
A letter of intent approving the establishment of a private hospital was issued by the Government of Malta in 1992. In 1993, Golden Shepherd Ltd, the company that would own and operate the hospital, was registered under the direction of Frank Portelli, a medical doctor and former Nationalist Party MP. Construction was completed and the hospital officially opened its doors in 1995.[1]
During its operational years, St Philip's Hospital developed a specialized niche in serving British health tourists who were seeking to avoid long National Health Service (NHS) waiting lists in the United Kingdom. The hospital occupied a 10,000 square-meter plot and was equipped to accommodate up to 100 patients.[2]
Despite its specialized focus, St Philip's Hospital began experiencing significant financial challenges in the mid-2000s. According to the last set of accounts filed with the Registry of Companies for 2006, the company reported losses exceeding €500,000. Frank Portelli later attributed much of the hospital's financial decline to the introduction of electricity surcharges in 2005, which allegedly resulted in a 190% increase in energy bills.[3]
By 2007, financial statements indicated continued losses of approximately €160,0002. The hospital's financial situation continued to deteriorate, eventually accumulating substantial debts.[2][3]
Unable to recover from these financial difficulties, St Philip's Hospital ceased operations in 2012 and was subsequently put up for sale.[2][3]
Attempted government acquisition
In October 2012, shortly after the hospital's closure, the Maltese government attempted to acquire St Philip's Hospital. The proposed agreement involved leasing the facility for €850,000 annually over an eight-year period. The government planned to repurpose the hospital as a rehabilitation facility to help alleviate bed shortages at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta's main public hospital.
The agreement also included an option for the government to purchase the hospital outright for €12.4 million from the third year of the lease onward. However, this potential solution fell through when the government ultimately withdrew from negotiations16. Portelli reportedly considered legal action against the government following the collapse of this deal.[1]