Course for health assistants

A course is to be held for health assistants wishing to progress to the grade of nursing aides, the General Workers' Union said.

The GWU said its public health section had been insisting with the government about the need for this course for the last four years. The last course was held in 1996. The union said there was a substantial lack of nursing aides in St Luke's hospital, Mount Carmel Hospital, homes for the elderly, St Vincent de Paul and health centres.

The union urged the health department to ensure that there were no delays in the call for applications.