Health Screening

Regular routine health checks are recommended at all stages of a person’s life. There are, in fact, a number of factors that are common to most diseases:

· They are largely preventable
· They can be successfully treated
· Lifestyle factors often play a crucial role

Therefore the aims of health screening are threefold:

· To identify pre-existing health problems
· To assess your risk factors for disease
· To provide recommendations on your lifestyle and health that will encourage a longer and healthier life.

Health screening is being increasingly requested as many people are conscious of the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment in the prevention of serious illness as it is widely recognized that prevention is better than cure. Companies are also encouraging health screening for their staff as this may help prevent absenteeism and long term sickness in the future.

St Philip’s Hospital promotes health screening in Malta and offers a range of health screening services to give you peace of mind, whether you are after a general check-up or testing for a specific problem. St Philip’s provides tailored diagnostic services for both individuals and corporate clients. Health screening sessions at St Philip’s are carried out by a qualified medical practitioner who prepares a confidential report.

Health screening for men

Health screening for men addresses the most important health risks in men including heart disease and several abnormalities. Base on the information that results from the screening exercise as well as information gathered through individual counseling sessions, the medical practitioner recommends appropriate lifestyle modifications as well as more specific intervention and follow-up where necessary.
St Philip’s standard health screening programme for men is as follows:

· Medical Questionnaire
· Clinical Examination
· Height, Weight and Body Mass Index
· Hearing and Vision Tests
· Lung Function Tests
· ECG
· Urinalysis
· Blood Glucose Test
· Full Blood Count
· Lipid Profile
· Rectal examination and Faecal Occult Blood
· Prostate Specific Antigen (recommended for men over 50

· Counseling and recommendations based on results and examination

· Full written report

Health screening for women

Health screening for women addresses the most important health risks in women and specifically the early signs of female-specific abnormalities. A Gynaecological examination forms an integral part of the screening session, together with the opportunity to discuss health matters with the doctor.

St Philip’s standard health screening programme for women is as follows:

· Medical Questionnaire
· Clinical Examination which includes breast and pelvic examination
· Height, Weight and Body Mass Index
· Hearing and Vision Tests
· Lung Function Tests
· ECG
· Urinalysis
· Blood Glucose Test
· Full Blood Count
· Lipid Profile
· Faecal Occult Blood
· Cervical Cytology (smear test)
· Mammography (recommended for women over 40)
· Counseling and recommendations based on results and examination
· Full written report

ENT – Ear Nose & Throat

St Philip’s Hospital is fully equipped to carry out ear, nose and throat (ENT) examinations and ENT operations.

ENT specialists are doctors who have specialized training in the medical and surgical treatment of the head and neck. ( ENT stands for Ear Nose & Throat).

ENT specialists are trained to treat infectious diseases, tumours (both benign and malignant), facial trauma, and deformities of the face. They provide medical and surgical treatment of hearing disorders, ear infections, balance disorders, facial nerve or cranial nerve disorders, as well as management of certain congenital birth disorders.

At St Philip’s our ENT specialists have expertise in diseases of the ear, nose and nasal passages, sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral cavity and upper pharynx (mouth and throat), as well as cancer of the head and neck.

They also specialize in the assessment of hearing loss and related problems, such as auditory processing, tinnitus (noise in the ears) and vertigo (balance).

Diabetic Clinic

St Philip’s Diabetic Clinic offers consultation, treatment and education of individuals with or at risk for problems associated with diabetes, and also provides support to their families. The aim of the Diabetic Clinic is to help patients learn to self-manage their diabetes to prevent or lessen complications such as kidney, eye and heart disease.

Surgical and Orthopaedic Outpatients

The aim of surgical and orthopaedic outpatients’ services at St Philip’s Hospital is to address patients’ mobility and lifestyle issues and to improve the range of motion, strength, stability, flexibility and movement at the location of the injury or surgery. Patients are educated on how to compensate for their injury and how their home environment may be improved for maximum independence and function.

Acute Emergency

The Emergency Department at St Philip’s Hospital is intended to provide care to patients with life threatening illnesses or injuries. We treat acute surgical conditions such as abdominal pain, appendicitis, and injuries from accidents, acute chest infections breathing difficulties and fractures.

Even here we have established benchmarks – in many hospitals excessive waiting times in the A&E department creates unnecessary added stress. We have our own benchmarks in the Emergency Department, where you will be treated rapidly by a team of Emergency doctors and nurses trained in giving emergency care.

Additional Tests

In the majority of cases, the standard health screen will be enough for the doctor to confirm a person’s state of health. However, on some occasions, the doctor may recommend further investigative tests. The following tests may all be carried out at St Philip’s:

· Chest X-ray
· Exercise ECG
· Visual Acuity
· Vitalography
· Audiometry
· Liver Function Tests
· Renal Profile
· Bone Profile
· Glucose Tolerance Test
· Gout Screen
· Thyroid Function Tests
· Male Fertility Screen
· Female Fertility Screen
· Menopause Screen
· Blood tests