The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses will hold a rally next week ahead of new directives for industrial action unless the government acted to recruit more nurses.
The MUMN is asking government to engage all nurses at its disposal and make the nursing course more attractive for prospective students.
For the past three weeks, nurses and midwives have refused to carry out non-nursing duties such as clerical work or taking blood samples. Hundreds of patients had to have their appointment for blood tests postponed.
Nurses are protesting staff shortages and the failure to provide staff meals after a severed mouse’s head found in the food of the hospital staff canteen led to the issue of vouchers for nurses to procure their own food.
The union is also protesting the fact that they have not been given a professional warrant, promised them a year ago, although the government said a legal notice is in the offing.
The MUMN said nurses are facing future shortages which will run in the hundreds. It has demanded a long-term manpower plan on how the government aims to cater for new developments in health.
The union accused the government of not honouring a commitment made last year to increase the number of nurses.
The union claims newly recruited nurses are not being engaged on casual basis, and others who wanted to work beyond their retirement were also being disappointed.
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