Imperial Palace retirement home, in Sliema, is the latest private operator to enter a public-private partnership with the Government to provide a number of beds to ease the long waiting lists for admission into state hospitals.

There are several other such agreements, which the Directorate for Active Ageing and Community Care has inked with multiple privately-run retirements homes in a bid to free up space at Mater Dei Hospital and Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital.

The news of the Government’s agreement with Imperial Palace retirement home was announced by St George’s Care Ltd, the operator of the Imperial as well as Casa Antonia in Balzan, in a notice to market.

It is the first such agreement between St George’s Care and Active Ageing and Community Care.

It will see the company provide long-term care beds at the Imperial Palance nursing and residential retirement home.

St George’s Care said: “The provision of the long-term care beds is deemed to be complementary to the various active ageing services offered by the Imperial Palace retirement home, in line with the retirement home’s professed commitment to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle among its guests and the surrounding community.”