Nurses want an urgent meeting with the government because they say they have not been consulted on potential changes in the primary health care sector.

The request was made by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses in a letter to Health Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar.

Contacted yesterday, however, Dr Cassar said consultation about changes in the sector had still to start and it was up to Cabinet to decide whether consultation would even take place.

In its letter, which was circulated to the media, the union said it was reliably informed that a number of meetings about "drastic and radical" changes in primary healthcare were currently underway. These changes would directly affect nurses working in health centres.

"The union cannot understand why it was not informed or consulted on the plans in such a sensitive sector," said the letter, signed by union general secretary Colin Galea.

He said health centre nurses were aware of "negotiations" with another sector of workers and added that the nurses would be faced with the implementation of changes.

"This is instilling a sense of anger and disappointment in nurses who are feeling like second-class workers," Mr Galea wrote, adding that the union had been informed that a White Paper was being prepared.

When contacted, union president Paul Pace confirmed that he had spoken with Dr Cassar earlier yesterday but was still requesting an official meeting.