Nurses threaten industrial action

Nurses are expected to take industrial action in hospitals and health centres this morning, amid discontent about staff shortages. The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses is unhappy with the government's efforts to address the situation and is expected to announce its intention to rally its members this morning.

"We are no longer prepared to see nurses suffer," MUMN president Paul Pace said. He would not divulge the actions being considered but would only say that they would be widespread across hospitals and health centres. In a short statement calling a news conference this morning, the union accused the government of lacking the willingness to beef up the workforce. "The situation is much worse than it was before the general election," Mr Pace said when contacted, as he accused the government of resorting to "short-gap measures" to address the situation.

The unrest comes a year after the union and the government signed an agreement, which included measures aimed at enticing more people to the nursing profession while luring back those who had left.