Cardiologist steps down as investigation focuses on her breach of rules

A senior cardiologist at Mater Dei Hospital has resigned after The Shift revealed she was breaking the rules while her husband was Chair of the department.

Mariosa Xuereb resigned from service and “is currently on her pre-retirement leave” as an investigation initiated by the health ministry’s permanent secretary focused on her private work.

In May, The Shift reported that Xuereb had been abusing public service rules and her employment conditions for years, offering her services at her private clinic in Ta’ Xbiex.

Xuereb had obtained permission from the government to work on a reduced-hours contract after stating that she could not work full-time due to a medical condition.

Permission was granted, and Xuereb started working at Mater Dei only two mornings a week. However, she continued to work at her private clinic, seeing patients almost every day between 9am and 10pm.

According to established rules, consultants on a reduced-hours contract are precluded from any private work.

While she was doing this, her husband, Robert Xuereb, was chairman of the cardiology department at Mater Dei where his wife worked under his supervision.

The private clinic in which she offered her services while claiming to have a medical condition – Heart Clinic in Ta’ Xbiex – is owned by the couple.

Cardiologist and FMS CEO Robert Xuereb.

Patients confirmed that they were given appointments by Xuereb to see them at her private clinic, even at 10pm.

“Following The Shift’s report last May, an investigation was launched by the Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, and it was becoming quite clear that the details produced by The Shift were true,” government sources said.

They added that Mariosa Xuereb was advised that it would be better if she left the public sector and continued to practice at her private clinic in Ta’ Xbiex to avoid further complications, as she would have probably been found guilty and forced to refund what she received in breach of her contract. For some reason, the ministry did not continue with the probe after Xuereb submitted her resignation.

Her husband, Robert Xuereb, was appointed by the Health Ministry as the new CEO of the Foundation for Medical Services and put on a €122,000 annual salary.

Unlike other government CEOs, Xuereb was also allowed to keep working at his private clinic and continue seeing his patients at Mater Dei.

Both Robert and his wife Mariosa are also shareholders of Prime Sites Development Ltd, a construction development company together with other partners.

                           

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22 Comments
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Fred the Red
Fred the Red
2 months ago

Hnieżer Tagħna Lkoll! Biex ipoġġu lil dan kienu neħħew lil Profs Albert Fenech, hux hekk?

Anne R. key
Anne R. key
2 months ago
Reply to  Fred the Red

Oink, Oink!

Gillian Camilleri
Gillian Camilleri
2 months ago
Reply to  Fred the Red

Yes they did!! And made his private working life hell
The jealousy and animosity was incredible!! There will never be another Albert Fenech whose sole interest was the patient and nothing else. RIP 🙏 You went too soon 💔

Joseph
Joseph
2 months ago

More, ‘mejtin bil guh, iridu jiblaw l’ A__a’! Seriously , the Maltese greed knows no bounds and openly flaunted too! Shame on these greedy pigs!

George Mangion
George Mangion
2 months ago
Reply to  Joseph

Why did it have be The Shift to discover this abuse when we have a fully fledged NAO with staff who can investigate and make Mrs Xureb refund back the money

Mark Tanti
Mark Tanti
2 months ago

Mhux SE tehodhom mieghek Xuereb. Blajta dinja

David
David
2 months ago

The ‘greedy pigs’ SAVED MY LIFE.

P montebello
P montebello
2 months ago
Reply to  David

Good for you thatvthey saved your life but THAT does not exonerate then from being greedy pigs.

Lawrence Mifsud
Lawrence Mifsud
2 months ago
Reply to  David

Congratulations; but rules and ethics are to be followed by all.

12X
12X
2 months ago
Reply to  David

The ‘greedy pigs’ did not save my father. He was put on a very high dose of blood thinners, and when pointed out that he was covered in bruises became arrogant and insisted that it was the correct dose. He died of an inter-cranial bleed. They never took our calls after he was admitted to MDH, nor visited him in hospital.

nathalie bonnici pace
nathalie bonnici pace
2 months ago
Reply to  David

And how many lives did PROF.Albert Fenech SAVED.

Simon Carbonaro
Simon Carbonaro
2 months ago

Ipokriti they say they work from the heart. As if!!!.

simon oosterman
simon oosterman
2 months ago

Do we live in a great country or what?

Joseph
Joseph
2 months ago

This,has been going on for years and no receipt is ever given

nathalie bonnici pace
nathalie bonnici pace
2 months ago
Reply to  Joseph

AND their professional fee IS ??

Raymond Gatt
Raymond Gatt
2 months ago

Mur ġib lil xi ħaddieħor, xi annimal jitħallas xi ħaġa żejda fil-penżjoni jew fil-paga kienux jintalbu lura! Dan huwa serq flusna lkoll! Imma dawn il-qżieqeż għandhom aktar min qaddis wieħed probabli!
QUM LAŻŻRU GAFA U GĦAMEL DAK LI QIEGĦED TITĦALLAS GĦALIEĦ!

Martin
Martin
2 months ago

Kulħadd Jitħanżer.

Carmelo borg
2 months ago

Greed greed greed
Tidhol libes u tohrog GHARWIN

Patient
Patient
2 months ago

What pigs! They are notorious for their private work and the high fees they charge. Mariosa wasn’t satisfied but wanted to milk the government too. They are incredibly greedy.

Robert pace bonello is
Robert pace bonello is
2 months ago

Sadly PIGGERY is widespread in this noble profession. Nothing is sacred anymore – GREED IS EVERYTHING

joe tedesco
joe tedesco
2 months ago

FIEX ĠABUH LIL DAN IL-PAJJIZ!!! MIN IFOTTI U
JITĦANŻER L-IKTAR. IL-POTER DEJJEM JIKKORROMPI.

Roberta Bela
Roberta Bela
2 months ago

R E V O L T I N G PAIR!

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