Threat to halt operations

The operating theatres at Mater dei Hospital could come to a standstill today if nurses are not given the protective gowns they have been asking for, following instructions issued by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, yesterday.

The drastic move came as the hospital was threatened with other actions by the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin which will issue directives to ambulance drivers tomorrow if their requests are not met by the deadline.

Under the action ordered by the nurses' union, theatre nurses would not assist in operations unless protected by gowns which guard them from body fluids.

The Times asked for the reaction of the Social Policy Ministry but while they said a statement would be issued, none was forthcoming by the time of going to print.

The union had been asking for the protective clothing for months but the Health Division refused to supply them, union president Paul Pace said.

He said the gowns protect both nurses and patients from potentially lethal infections, pointing out that even the health and safety authority said the gowns were required. But the union's requests had fallen on deaf ears.

Theatre nurses were also told to refuse to assist operations unless patients first signed the standard consent form.

The form is signed after a doctor explains the medical procedure and all possible implications. Unless a patient completed the consent form before operations, nurses would send the patients back to the ward, Mr Pace said.

Nurses in the endoscopy unit were also instructed not to wash any instruments. This follows union requests, which it said were also ignored, to have care workers and health assistants assigned to this task.

The action comes after the union earlier this month instructed theatre nurses to "take their break", which the nurses would often forgo in order to keep the operations moving. The Health department took this as a form of industrial action and said that while nurses' breaks were to be respected, it would make sure patients were not endangered.

The fresh action was announced during a seminar held yesterday morning.

Speaking about the government's proposal to appoint theatre technicians to help out with the workload of operations, Mr Pace said he was very sceptical and pointed out that it was never made clear what their role would be.

The Health Department had established the grade of theatre technicians to help raise the number of operations performed at Mater Dei. It had accused the union of not appreciating the efforts it made to give theatre nurses the necessary support.

"I don't agree with the government's decision to set up a new course at MCAST - this will not increase the use of operating theatres," he said.

Speaking about primary health care reform, Mr Pace expressed his disappointment at the government's decision to issue a document, in preparation for the White Paper, without consulting the union.

When the union protested, they were given a promise of consultation before the implementation of the reform, he said.