Supporting Groups & Services

What is the ART clinic?
The ART clinic at MDH offers services for infertility treatment and procreation procedures to prospective parents facing fertility challenges to achieve pregnancy or live births.

Services
Services which are offered to date, according to the Department of Health entitlement criteria at MDH, are:

• Follicle tracking – this is controlled ovarian stimulation (COS), where the female is monitored through her cycle with potential normal intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI) – is a fertility treatment where a processed sperm sample is directly inserted with a fine catheter through the cervix and deposited in the uterine cavity to facilitate fertility.
• A continuous IVF programme – centred on the clinical needs of the prospective parent.
• Gamete cryopreservation:
  • Sperm banking - males before undergoing oncology treatment and males who are experiencing infertility issues.
  • Oocyte banking - females before undergoing oncology treatment.
• Donation of gametes by known non-partners.
• Donation of gametes by unknown non-partners.
• Freezing of embryos.

How does the ART clinic work?
The process from referral to discharge is as follows:

• Prospective parents need to bring a referral ticket of admission.
• 1st appointment given for consultation with ART medical team.
• Preliminary investigations are taken.
• According to investigations prospective parents are referred for:
  • Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS):
    • Stimulated according to their menses and appointments are given for follicle tracking at ART clinic.
    • IUI or normal intercourse.
    • Pregnancy test after fifteen days – if pregnant the prospective parents will be discharged to obstetric care.
    • If not pregnant they are offered more trials of IUIs, and if by the 6th COS there is no positive pregnancy result, they are put on the IVF list.
  • IVF list:
    • File is sent to Prioritisation Committee for vetting and reporting.
    • An appointment is given with the Geneticist for genetic testing.
    • When genetic results are out, the prospective parents are called for IVF according to the Prioritisation report list.
    • An appointment with the ART Consultant is given prior to commencement of cycle.
    • IVF stimulation is given according to their menses, with appointments for follicle tracking for approximately 10-14 days of treatment.
    • A day for ooctye pick up is planned according to the ovarian response to treatment after 10-14 days, under general anaesthesia. The female is discharged on the day.
    • Sperm collection is done on day of oocyte pickup.
    • Fertilisation of oocyte and sperm is carried out at ART Lab with intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
    • Embryo transfer is done between day 3 and day 5 at the designated ART theatre at MDH. It is done on a walk in, walk out basis.
    • A pregnancy blood test is done at ART clinic 15 days after.
    • If result is positive, repeat of blood test is done every week for 2/3 weeks.
    • If all is well, the prospective parent is discharged for obstetric review and continuation of care.
    • Prospective parents are followed by phone by ART clinic nurses/midwives during each trimester.
    • If the result of the cycle is negative, the prospective parents are called for other cycles according to their MDH entitlement.
    • Prospective parents are discharged from the ART clinic when:
      • They have exhausted their IVF cycles.
      • On their request.
      • If opting for no embryo freezing, are pregnant, and have given birth.
      • Females are entitled for IVF with their own oocyte till 43 years. However, females can have IVF above 43 years with donor oocyte. Embryo transfer can continue till 48 years of age.

Breast screening in Malta involves having a mammogram by a radiographer at the Screening Centre.

For more information about Breast Cancer and screening click here.

If you have any questions about the service, you can:

• Telephone: 21227470/1
• E-mail: breast.screening@gov.mt
• Visit the website: https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/phc/nbs/Pages/Screening-Programmes/Breast-Screening.aspx
• Visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MaltaNationalHealthScreeningCentre

Ċentru Nazzjonali għall-Screening,
17, Xatt Lascaris,
Il-Belt Valletta,
VLT 1921,
Malta

Cana movement offers various therapeutic services including:

• Clinical psychologist.
• Family therapist.
• Counsellor.
• Fertility counsellor.
• Parent coach.
• Psychotherapist.
• Positive parenting facilitator.

Anyone who wish to obtain further information about the services should contact cana movement on:
Telephone: 22238000
Mobile: 79014827 / 79011435
E-mail: info@canamovement.org
Website: http://www.canamovement.org

Moviment ta' Kana
Institute Kattoliku
Triq San Publiju
Floriana
FRN 1441

Groups at Caritas Malta:

• Monday 18:00-19:30 - Emotions Anonymous - Support group for emotional support.
• Monday 18:00-19:30 - Gamblers Anonymous and Gam Anon for families and significant others of those who are dependent on gambling.
• Tuesday - Alcohol Anonymous and another group for families and significant others of those who are Alcoholics.
• Wednesday - YSSG - Young Separated Support Group - a support group for people who are going through separations.
• Thursday - Thursday Club - for those who are going through mental health problems.
• Friday - RoSe group - support group for widowed and separated persons above 60 years of age.

Telephone: 21331000
E-mail: info@caritasmalta.org

• The test is offered to all women between 25 and 41 years of age (anyone who were born from the 1980 onwards).
• You will automatically receive an invitation from the National Screening Centre as part of the National Screening Programme.

For more information about Cervical Cancer and screening click here.

If you have any questions about the service, you can:

• Ask your Family Doctor.
• Contact a local health clinic.
• Telephone: 21227470/1
• E-mail: cervix.screening@gov.mt
• Visit the website: screening.gov.mt
• Visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MaltaNationalHealthScreeningProgrammes

Ċentru Nazzjonali għall-Screening,
17, Xatt Lascaris,
Il-Belt Valletta,
VLT 1921,
Malta

Any transgender persons seeking gender affirmative health care may be referred to this clinic by the medical doctor or a psychologist or a social worker of their choice, using a specific referral form which may be accessed online via this link: Link

The duly filled referral form may be either scanned and emailed to transhealthcare.health@gov.mt, or else delivered by hand to Mater Dei Hospital Reception.

For further information, kindly email the GWC team on transhealthcare.health@gov.mt.
Clinic mobile phone number is 79500299.

An HIV-positive patient is seen regularly by a team of doctors at the Outpatients Clinic in Mater Dei Hospital at MOP 4 (Level -1 Medical Outpatients Block). It is very important to attend every visit. If one attend for visit, call in advance and ask for the nurse in charge for a re-scheduling of the appointment.

In case of any difficulty you can contact the following number:
HIV Helpline 79847619 or 25457496
The pharmacist on 25456512

HIV Malta is a sub-group within the Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement (MGRM). In line with clause 2.3 of MGRM's statute, HIV Malta must always have at its centre the interests of LGBTIQ persons in Malta and Gozo, and shall work as part of the wider campaign championing human rights against discrimination based on sex, gender, race, colour, ethnicity or national origin, religion or belief, disability, age, and HIV status.

Telephone: 21430009
Mobile: 99255559
E-mail: hiv@maltagayrights.org
Website: https://www.hivmalta.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hivmalta

MGRM strives to achieve full equality for LGBTIQ people in Maltese society; a society that enables people to live openly and fully without fear of discrimination based on one's sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.

Telephone: 21430009
Mobile: +356 99255559 / +356 79430006
E-mail: mgrm@maltagayrights.org
Website: http://maltagayrights.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maltalgbt.rights

32, Parish Street,
Mosta,
MST 2021,
Malta (Europe)

Post-partum ladies at any age who developed a medical problem during pregnancy. This service offers pre-pregnancy counselling as well contraception information to women with medical conditions. Referral can be done by a medical practitioner to Maternal Med Clinic or refer directly to maternal.med.mdh@gov.mt.

Healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle
Excess body weight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic, non-communicable diseases. Eating a varied, healthy, balanced diet alongside regular physical activity is essential in the prevention of excess body weight gain, actual weight loss, and a healthier lifestyle for maintaining physical and mental health and well-being. A healthier lifestyle also promotes better sleep and fosters good mood.

The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate offers a nutritional helpline for any queries as well as a wide range of dietary and other health related material as a guide for your better health.

Contact health.pro@gov.mt or call the nutrition helpline 80073307/23266000 for more nutritional advise or other information.

Rainbow Support Service is committed to enhance the quality of life of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning individuals, their family and friends through the provision of information, consultation and psycho-social welfare services through an approach that considers an LGBTI identity as equally valid. The service embraces an LGBTI affirmative approach which values homosexuality, bisexuality, heterosexuality as well as transgender and intersex identities equally as natural and normal attributes. LGBTI affirmative practitioners are those whose beliefs and values appreciate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex identities as valid and rich orientations and identities in their own right, and who perceive homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, not diverse sexualities and gender identities, as pathological.

Telephone: +356 79430006
E-mail: support@maltagayrights.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainbowsupportservice

We offer support to anyone experiencing mental health problems and have a variety of therapists and psychologists available. Many mental health issues impact us physically and sexually so we can usually support most of the people that come to Richmond Foundation.

Richmond foundation have 24/7 support through our chat service olli.chat or by calling 1770 (for local numbers), and for those who have foreign numbers +00356 21224580.

They can be also reached on 1770@richmond.org.mt.

Servizz Għożża provides a support service and an educational programme that seeks to support young pregnant minors. The programme seeks to achieve its objectives by promoting the psycho-social and emotional well-being of adolescents encouraging them to adopt a positive attitude towards parenthood, while emphazising the importance of education and employment.

Telephone: 25986145/6/7/8
Email: servizzghozza@ilearn.edu.mt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilearn.edu.mt

Servizz Għożża,
Triq L-Arznell,
Mxlokk, MXK 1432.

In cooperation with the Ministry for Family, Children's Rights, and Social Solidarity, Victim Support Malta offers support to victims of sexual assault and rape who are over 18 years of age.

The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on call basis from Mater Dei Hospital.

Information on sexual assault and rape can be accessed here (link).

For any information or queries regarding the CVSA kindly contact Victim Support Malta on:
Telephone: 21228333 (This line is accessible during office hours).
E-mail: info@victimsupport.org.mt

The GU clinic offers a free and confidential service to test and treat STIs. No referral forms are required and there is no age limit. This means that young people can attend the clinic and their right to confidentiality will be respected (i.e. parents/doctors will not be informed). The medical results are kept separate from other results.

The clinic can be contacted on:
Telephone: 25457491/4
E-mail: guclinic@gov.mt

Information regarding adoption can be accessed here. For more information about adoption in Malta, contact Social Care Standard Authority.

Telephone: 25494000
E-mail: info.scsa@gov.mt
Website: scsa.gov.mt

SCSA
469, Bugeja Institute,
St Joseph High Road,
St Venera
Malta

For more information on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the local scene, one can click on the below URL address. It is important to point out that these numbers are not representative of whole population as the numbers are mainly obtained from the Genito-urinary clinic at Mater Dei Hospital. There are several other STIs which are not notifiable, are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed as people do not undergo testing due to the asymptomatic nature of the infections, fear of diagnosis or misinformation.

https//deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/health-promotion/idpcu/Pages/library.aspx

Are you a Victim of Crime?
Making Your Voice Heard

Get Access To:

• Case Information and Notifciation
• Legal Guidance
• Emotional Support

*All services are provided under strict confidentiality and free of charge.

Mission Statement
"Acting as the national contact point for victims of crime; enhancing a holistic approach towards needs and support for a better quality of life. Helping victims find their voice and become survivors!"

You Deserve:

• Respectful Treatment.
• Information on your case.
• Support and Assistance.
• Access to Justice

We will strive to help you BECOME A SURVIVOR

Contact Us
Telephone: +35625689700
Email: vsasupport@gov.mt
Facebook Messanger: Victim Support Agency
Website: www.vsa.gov.mt
Address: 52, Old Theatre Street Valletta

Physiotherapy Department
The Women's and Men's Health physiotherapy service is currently based at Mater Dei Hospital and comprises of three trained physiotherapists and a rotating member of staff.

It offers a range of services for persons suffering from conditions which affect the pelvic floor, those who undergo breast surgery and women with osteopaenia.

Referrals are received from obstetricians, gynaecologists, urologists, colorectal and general surgeons and general practitioners.

Conditions treated
Pregnancy related:

• Bladder and bowel dysfunction.
• Pelvic girdle pain.
• Diastasis recti.
• Low back pain and coccydynia.
• Pelvic pain.
• Sexual dysfunction.

Pre and post-menopausal women:

• Urinary incontinence.
• Anorectal dysfunction (constipation, anal incontinence and obstructive defaecation).
• Pelvic organ prolapse.
• Pelvic floor muscle weakness.
• Osteopaenia and osteoporosis.
• Sexual dysfunction including chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia and vaginismus.
• Rehabilitation after breast surgery.

Men:

• Rehabilitation pre and post-prostatectomy.
• Bladder and bowel dysfunction.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Pelvic pain.
• Rehabilitation after breast surgery.

Mater Dei Hospital – Telephone: 25456600/1

Queries can also be sent via email: physiotherapyservices@gov.mt

A description of all Physiotherapy services may be accessed through the following link: https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/ahcs/Pages/physiotherapy.aspx