15 patients at risk of serious complications or death as they wait several days for surgery

Apr 11 2023

According to a senior hospital source, around 15 elderly patients with hip fractures are at risk of serious illnesses or death because they have to wait several days for an operation. Nurses are taking industrial action, causing operations to be postponed, which is leading to a backlog. The Association of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons said that the number of patients awaiting surgery has reached a “record number” due to union directives. Patients have been waiting up to a week for surgery, increasing their risk of morbidity and mortality, especially for elderly patients with hip fractures.

While acknowledging the right of workers and unions to take industrial action, the association called on the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) to allow the theatre staff to perform surgeries on all available theatres on acute fractures and trauma patients irrespective of their life-threatening condition. A hospital source described the situation as “inhumane” since patients remain bed-bound, in pain, and disoriented while waiting for surgery.

The MUMN ordered its members not to perform several functions, including washing patients and clerical work, in an industrial dispute over the pay and working conditions of nurses and midwives. The government and the MUMN have been in negotiations for a new sectoral agreement since August. The directives affect all public hospitals, except the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, with separate directives targeting each hospital.

Paul Pace, the MUMN chief, said the union had no choice but to order industrial action since the pay and conditions of nurses were discriminatory and were causing people to leave the profession. When asked about the impact of the union’s measures on patients, Pace said that the government should address issues such as two-year waiting lists, consultants leaving the hospital at midday, people waiting for an operation being skipped by others, and a lack of transparency in scheduling operations. The health ministry said it had presented new proposals to the union for a new sectoral agreement, but an agreement was still far away, according to Pace.

Source: Times of Malta

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PwC Malta releases fourth edition of Property Barometer revealing shift towards property rentals

Apr 11 2023

PwC Malta has released the fourth edition of its Property Barometer, which analyses the current local sentiment towards local real estate demand preferences and key trends. The survey was carried out between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023 by means of an online survey, targeting the total population residing on the Maltese Islands, garnering 405 responses. This edition focused on topics relating to purchasing and rental preferences, sources of financing, regulatory developments, sustainability considerations, sentiments towards real estate agents, and available information on the market.

One of the key trends observed during the fourth run is a shift in demand for property sales to rentals. The survey found that demand for property rentals increased to 31% in Q1 2023, up from 12% in Q1 2022, while it fell for property sales, dropping to 42% in Q1 2023, from 51% in Q1 2022. The results of this edition registered the highest demand for property rentals and the lowest for property purchases out of all the barometer editions carried out to date.

These public sentiments seem to echo secondary market data. Data published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) indicated that, during 2022, the number of promise of sale agreements relating to individual buyers of residential property amounted to 11,083, a 22% decrease when compared to those registered in the previous year. Based on data reported in the Housing Authority’s latest Annual Malta Residential Rental Study, by the end of 2021, the rental register comprised almost 38,000 active contracts, representing an increase over the prior year.

A movement between different brackets of property values was also observed in this survey, as respondents shifted towards the lower end of the price spectrum, namely from properties valued above €400,000 to those between €200,000 and €400,000.

The Property Barometer also analysed sources of financing and regulatory developments in the local real estate market, as well as sustainability considerations, sentiments towards real estate agents and available information on the market.

According to the report, the shift in demand for property rentals may be attributed to several factors, including uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, increased flexibility in remote work arrangements, and the desire for more affordable housing options.

PwC Malta cautions that it is yet to assess whether this shift from residential property sales to property rentals is a long-term trend. The report urges stakeholders to continue monitoring the market and adapting to changing consumer preferences.

The Property Barometer provides valuable insights into the current state of the Maltese real estate market, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies for the future.

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Study confirms men exaggerate height and penis size

Apr 11 2023

A recent study has confirmed what many people have suspected for some time: men tend to exaggerate the size of their height and penis.

The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, focused on self-reported measurements of height, weight, athleticism, and penis size.

The study found that men tended to report bodily markers that were above the population mean, with the exception of weight.

Height and penis size were the most exaggerated, with self-reported penis size being 21.1% above the wider Danish population mean.

The researchers also found that men who were offered a lower monetary reward were more likely to exaggerate their penis size than those who were offered a higher reward.

The researchers chose bodily markers like height, weight, and penis size because they are linked to masculinity.

The team also noted that men often exaggerate their height on dating sites in order to improve their chances in the mating market.

The study’s authors cautioned that studies relying on men’s self-reported measurements of bodily markers should be interpreted with great caution.

They suggested that men may be more inclined to lie about their penis size than their height, weight, or athleticism, as the penis is typically concealed and therefore easier to lie about without getting caught in everyday interactions.

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Nobel Prize winner Dalai Lama faces backlash for kissing a child on the mouth

Apr 11 2023

The Dalai Lama, who up until this point was one of the world’s most respected spiritual leaders, has been embroiled in controversy following the circulation of a viral video in which he is seen kissing a young boy on the mouth and asking him to “suck his tongue.”

The video, was filmed in February but only went viral in the past few hours, causing a widespread outrage and condemnation.

In response to the backlash, the Dalai Lama’s office issued a statement apologising for the incident and explaining that the kiss was meant to be innocent and playful.

The statement reads: “His holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused. His holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.”

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