Gozo ambulance drivers have followed in the footsteps of their Maltese counterparts and will only do emergency work as from Monday.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin issued directives to the drivers after promises that they will start working according to a roster similar to that applicable to Maltese drivers failed to materialise.

The union's health section secretary, Joseph Bonello, said the new roster was expected to start at the beginning of the year, yet nothing had materialised.

Contacted yesterday, a spokesman for the Gozo Ministry said a meeting with representatives of the ambulance drivers was held recently. She said the ministry accepted the proposal that drivers start working according to rosters used in Malta subject to approval by the Management and Personnel Office within the Prime Minister's Office, which is looking into the issue.

On Monday the union announced that similar action will be taken in Malta on Friday, with ambulance drivers doing only emergency work and not transporting people who had outpatient appointments to and from hospital.

The dispute is over what they are calling bad air quality, in the hospital garage.