St Philip's Hospital

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. History 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. 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. Financial difficulties and closure 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. By 2007, financial statements indicated continued losses of approximately €160,0002. The hospital's financial situation continued to deteriorate, eventually accumulating substantial debts. Unable to recover from these financial difficulties, St Philip's Hospital ceased operations in 2012 and was subsequently put up for sale. 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. Post-closure Developments Court-Ordered Liquidation The financial troubles of St Philip's Hospital culminated in a court-ordered liquidation of Golden Shepherd Ltd. In a case brought by HSBC Malta, the Maltese courts determined that the company was unable to repay its debts, which by then amounted to approximately €12 million. The liquidation order highlighted the extent of the financial collapse of what had once been a prominent private healthcare facility. Legal Disputes over Utility Bills In October 2024, a significant legal victory came for the former hospital when a court ruled that St Philip's Hospital had faced discrimination regarding electricity billing practices. The court determined that the hospital had been unjustly excluded from a program designed to limit electricity costs, which had been made available to other sectors including hotels and factories. This ruling, which awarded the hospital €27,000 in compensation, came after a legal battle that began in 2012 when the hospital charged Enemalta and the Maltese government with unfair practices in their billing system. The legal proceedings revealed that during a three-year period, the hospital had received significantly inflated electricity bills, contributing to its financial downfall. Current state of the Abandoned Facility Since its closure, St Philip's Hospital has fallen into severe disrepair and has become a target for vandalism. Multiple break-ins have resulted in extensive damage to the property. A particularly concerning development has been the discovery of thousands of patient medical records left accessible within the abandoned building. Times of Malta journalists who visited the premises confirmed the presence of pre-operation documents, ECG test results, ultrasounds, and patient files containing sensitive personal information. Frank Portelli has attributed the hospital's deteriorated state to deliberate acts of vandalism motivated by "political vindictiveness" rather than negligence in securing the facility after closure. In 2022, authorities arrested nine youths in connection with alleged arson at the property. The hospital building, once valued at €18 million (excluding medical equipment), with later valuations reportedly assessing it at €35 million according to Portelli, now stands as a deteriorating reminder of its former purpose. References External links Official web site