Bahrain's health services are fully operational despite mischievous rumours that patients have been turned away, said a government official.

Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) and all the country's 23 health centres are functioning normally, according to new Health Minister Dr Nazar Al Baharna.

'There is no reason to believe rumours that not all services and facilities are available at the hospital and all health centres and that people are being turned away,' he said after meeting SMC staff, including doctors, nurses and technicians.

'All services are being offered as usual and there are as many people visiting SMC as on any other day.'

The minister said nearly 700 people visited the accident and emergency department, more than 90 were admitted to the hospital and 95 patients visited the obstetrics and gynaecology department yesterday.

'These are normal figures for any day,' he said.

'In addition, there were also 12 children born at the hospital, which is also an average number.'

Dr Al Baharna said Bahrain's health centres had received 10,000 patients in 24 hours, an average number.

His visit came as a new hotline set up to record complaints against officials at the hospital received more than 20 calls in its first nine hours of operation on Tuesday.

Volunteers said calls came from men and women from Bahrain, England, Egypt and the Philippines, who complained about SMC problems.

These included difficulty entering the hospital and delayed treatment and services because of staff sitting outside in the car park.

The hotline (34150699 or e-mail imhb2011@gmail.com) was set up at the request of MPs Abdulhaleem Murad, Adnan Al Malki, Hassan Al Dossary, Abdulrahman Bumajeed and Ali Zayed, who have also asked to question Dr Al Baharna in parliament in the light of 'irregularities' at SMC.

Parliament vice-chairman Adel Abdulrahman Al Ma'awada said the request had been submitted, but put aside.

Speaking with doctors, staff and patients, Dr Al Baharna said offering the best-possible services at the country's largest hospital is the ministry's priority. 'Any obstacles that anyone might face have to be immediately brought to the notice of the authorities and these would be addressed,' he said.

Dr Al Baharna also visited the day care unit, outpatient department, laboratories and the radiology department to look at the progress of work. He later visited the Shaikh Sabah Al Salem Health Centre, Umm Al Hassam, and met doctors, staff and patients.

Anyone with any complaint or observation about any Health Ministry facility can also call 39711666, 39766111 or 38444431.

The minister was accompanied by hospital affairs assistant under-secretary Dr Ameen Al Sa'ati, primary care and public health assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahma, SMC chief executive officer Dr Waleed Al Mana'a and hospital chief of staff Dr Mohammed Amin Al Awadhi.-TradeArabia News Service