The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has called for more nurses to be employed so that more operations could be held reducing the waiting lists problem.

The union said it did not agree with the Social Policy Minister that, rather than attracting more nurses, operating technicians should be introduced since this would lower the level of care given.

It said that although it was true that when, five years ago, the nurses' situation was much better than it was at present, a decision had been taken for the government not to continue with the course for enrolled nurses. The situation today was much different with a shortage of nurses in every hospital. So this decision needed to be revised.

In reopening the course for enrolled nurses, the government would be solving the shortage of nurses in operating theatres as well as the shortage of nurses in hospitals.

The union pointed out that in the past year, the Health Division managed to attract a small number of staff nurses from eastern Europe, many of whom could not even speak English. There were also substantial cultural problems for these nurses to adopt to Malta's systems.

MUMN's proposal to reopen the course for enrolled nurses was a solution to many problems being faced in the health sector, the union said.