Nurses voice complaints

The nurses' union took the cue from the International Day of Nurses, being marked today, to complain about its members' conditions.

In a hard-hitting statement, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said that contrary to other professions, its members were still unrecognised because they were not given a warrant.

The shortage of nurses was leaving a negative impact and the numbers will go down further, the union warned, after the government drastically reduced the student stipend to Lm36 a month.

As a result, students interested in following a career in nursing were changing route. This was taking place when the new Mater Dei Hospital would evidently require a considerable number of nurses.

"Furthermore, the Health Division is dragging its feet to authorise the opening of a special register for nurses to regularise the sector in a professional manner," it said.