The Malta Foundation programme : one year on : part I

The Malta Foundation programme was launched in July 2009, In July 2010 the first group of foundation doctors were awarded their Foundation Achievement of Competence Document allowing them to proceed to the next step of their career, basic specialist training. The programme was set p with two main objectives: A. t improve the first two years of postgraduate training of doctors and to ensure that doctors achieved a level of competence enabling provision of safe patient care; and B. to reverse the exodus of Maltese medical graduates and retain an adequate proportion of doctors to allow the local health service to provide a good quality service. we present the results of the introduction of the Foundation programme to Malta and ask whether the main objectives have been achievedpeer-reviewe

The Malta Foundation Programme : one year on : pt.II

Part 1 of this article can be found in this link : https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/12739Part 2 of the article. The Malta Foundation programme was launched in July 2009, In July 2010 the first group of foundation doctors were awarded their Foundation Achievement of Competence Document allowing them to proceed to the next step of their career, basic specialist training. The programme was set p with two main objectives: A. to improve the first two years of postgraduate training of doctors and to ensure that doctors achieved a level of competence enabling provision of safe patient care; and B. to reverse the exodus of Maltese medical graduates and retain an adequate proportion of doctors to allow the local health service to provide a good quality service. we present the results of the introduction of the Foundation programme to Malta and ask whether the main objectives have been achieved.peer-reviewe

The national helpline during the COVID-19 pandemic : a pillar of support for the public

Soon after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta in March 2020, the number of calls from the public escalated so much that a helpline service, Helpline 111, was set at a private call centre. Calls from the public were answered by a team of trained agents, supported onsite by officials from the Public Health Response Team. The reasons for the calls varied and guidelines for answering the calls were continuously updated in line with the current standards and mitigation measures.peer-reviewe

A longitudinal analysis of trends in the number of positive cases and swabbing activities during the first eighteen months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta

In March 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic teams were set up to execute the processes needed to implement COVID-19 related activities. The Helpline team was responsible for the booking of appointments for swabbing, the first step in the process. The Helpline also received calls from the public for other reasons.peer-reviewe

The Malta Foundation Programme : time to act

On the 27th November 2008, the Health Care Services Division announced that a Foundation Programme for Housephysicians will commence in July 2009. The same circular stated that “this two-year programme for Housephysicians essentially transforms the current housemanship into a structured learning experience.” For those of us who spent the main part of our two years of housemanship at St Luke’s Hospital, this sounds rather strange. For a start why do we need to “transform” the current housemanship? It worked well enough for us. And secondly what exactly is a “structured learning experience”?peer-reviewe

Empyema Secondary to Actinomyces meyeri Treated Successfully with Ceftriaxone Followed by Doxycycline

Actinomycosis is a relatively rare infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria. We present the case of a 54-year-old, previously healthy, male patient with a history of severe penicillin allergy who developed severe pneumonia and empyema caused by Actinomyces meyeri. Presenting symptoms included productive cough, right upper quadrant pain, and chills and rigors. He required drainage of the empyema via tube and prolonged antibiotic treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone for 2 weeks followed by oral doxycycline for 6 months

Case Report Empyema Secondary to Actinomyces meyeri Treated Successfully with Ceftriaxone Followed by Doxycycline

Actinomycosis is a relatively rare infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria. We present the case of a 54-year-old, previously healthy, male patient with a history of severe penicillin allergy who developed severe pneumonia and empyema caused by Actinomyces meyeri. Presenting symptoms included productive cough, right upper quadrant pain, and chills and rigors. He required drainage of the empyema via tube and prolonged antibiotic treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone for 2 weeks followed by oral doxycycline for 6 months