Works to expand Mater Dei Hospital’s Emergency Department and build the new Acute Mental Health Hospital are set to begin in August, Health Minister Ian Borg has announced.Replying to a parliamentary question by PN MP Ian Vassallo, Borg said the project is expected to take around three years to complete.Once finished, the expansion will more than double the number of cubicles in the Emergency Department, increasing capacity from 32 to 70 cubicles. The number of paediatric emergency cubicles will also increase.The project has faced delays after the original €80 million tender, issued in 2024, attracted just one bid. The consortium, CE-BB Projects, submitted an offer worth €135 million, which was rejected before being appealed.Following negotiations, the project’s cost was reduced to €120 million.Meanwhile, a separate €5.9 million tender covering project management and technical supervision services for the emergency department extension and the new acute mental health wards is currently being evaluated.What do you make of this?•