MUMN wants to reopen course for theatre nurses

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses have called for more nurses to be employed to help alleviate the problem of waiting lists for operations.

Reacting to a comment made by Social Policy Minister John Dalli, the union said it did not agree that operating technicians should substitute nurses because this would lower the level of care.

Mr Dalli blames the long waiting lists partly on the fact that there are not enough support staff to man all of the hospital's operating theatres.

The union pointed out that, five years ago, when nurses' numbers were much higher than today, a decision had been taken to stop the course for nurses who work in theatres. That decision was never revised despite falling numbers, the union said, calling for the decision to be revised.

In reopening the course, which is for enrolled nurses, the government would be solving the shortage of nurses in operating theatres as well as their shortage 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. The MUMN said that if the course were reopened, it would solve many problems experienced by the health sector.