Minister reacts to complaints on hospital overcrowding
The shortage of hospital beds was the result of three factors - health centres which were not well-equipped to provide all services available at Mater Dei, a shortage of nurses and a lack of homes equipped to deal with long term care, Health Minister Joseph Cassar said this morning.
Speaking during the launch of a new system digital X Ray system at the Mosta Health Centre, Dr Cassar said this was another step in the government’s project to boost the primary health care system.
Through this system, any X Ray taken would be immediately sent to Mater Dei where it would be seen by a bone specialist and a diagnosis is given, reducing a patient’s need to travel as well as waiting times. It would also reduce pressure on the hospital.
Eventually, this system would also be available at Floriana and Paola.
Dr Cassar said that the backlog problem in the system was also due to a shortage of nurses, which was a worldwide problem.
The government had issued an open call for applications for nurses for which people from anywhere in the world could apply.
People, the minister said, were living longer and becoming more dependent on health services as they grew older so nurses who would focus solely on long term care were needed.
He noted that the Nurses Council, which was an autonomous body, was processing 40 applications from Pakistani nurses to see if these would eventually be registered in Malta.
The council also processes applications from newly graduated nurses before they can start working.
This would enable them to work anywhere in the EU. The process took time and was solely the responsibility of the council.
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Claire Busuttil
Aug 19th 2010, 22:39
Minister reacts to complaints on hospital overcrowding
better to react on the problem itself minister.....rather then on the complains.....
Claire Busuttil
Aug 19th 2010, 22:38
SKUZI SKUZI U XEJN AKTAR!!! LI hemm fis settur tas sahha hu nuqqas ta organizzazjoni tremenda......pjanar ta xejn......donnu hadd ma qed jifhem, kemm il marid ghandu bzonn ghajnuna, u kemm dan hu dritt ta kull bniedem......
Sur ministru- n nuqqas ta PIRMLI u MEDICINI VITALI, huwa tort tan nuqqas tan nurses????
IL waiting lists twal li hemm huwa tort tan nuqqas tan nurses????
MA indahkux sur ministru!!! Min imexxi dan is settur ghandu ikun bniedem ta kuxjenza u sensibilita, affarijiet li fil ministru cassar mhux nara!!
ernest causon
Aug 19th 2010, 17:55
@Franco Xuereb To satisfy your curiosity, I retired in 1985 (guess it's quite a long time ago). At the time, a small part of my job included statistics. Yes, I can tell you, if my memory serves me right, the (approximate) number of beds was 750. I don't think there is anything I can add..
Franco Xuereb
Aug 19th 2010, 21:04
My friend you are tackling the subject in question from a different point of view, as at no point you are satisfying my curiosity, as I'm not curios at all.
I'm not interested as to when you had retired nor the kind of job you had, but the bottom of the argument remains the bed capacity of SLH, thus I regret to say that your thoughts that of 750 bed capacity of SLH is incorrect as it is well over the thousand bed capacity.
J. Debono
Aug 19th 2010, 16:49
The Minister is obviously beating around the bush, when giving 3 reasons for shortage of beds!!
1st of all an X-ray in Mosta Health Centre will not decrease admissions to MDH as patients with traumas are never admitted!
2nd - shortage of nurses!! is he joking, it is shortage of beds that is the problem!
3rd - lack of old people's homes. Yes it is true we have a lack of old people's homes, and the Minister knew this, before his party opened a smaller hospital than St.Luke's hospital!!!
Dear Minister, do not insult our intelligence by giving 3 reasons for shortage of beds, that have nothing to do with the real reason, which is - lack of planning and foresight!!
l fenech
Aug 19th 2010, 15:08
U issa mhux xorta. Ahjar bqajtu St. Luke's u dortu dawra mieghu. Il-marid u min jinvista l-ahhar haga li jara sabieh hu l-isptar. Tajjeb biss ghaz-zagarella u cek cik tat-tazzi.
victor borg
Aug 19th 2010, 14:48
The health minister told us there is a shotage of nurses.My dauther worked as a state registered
nurse for a number of years, she had to stop to raise her family. She has now reapplied for a job
with the health department but she is still waiting for an answer after six weeks, but we are
trying to bring nurses from overseas.
AZammit
Aug 19th 2010, 13:48
I am at a loss, the Minister is stating that they are considering employing Pakistani nurses whilst newly graduate nurses are stating that they are still waiting to be employed. The mind boggles!!!!!
lgalea
Aug 19th 2010, 13:24
"He noted that the Nurses Council, which was an autonomous body, was processing 40 applications from Pakistani nurses to see if these would eventually be registered in Malta. This would enable them to work anywhere in the EU."
Yes Minister, and do you think that they will then stay in Malta for the wages that we have when they can get a lot more in other eu countries? We give them recognition and then they will leave for another eu country.
Why should we have foreign nurses and not Maltese ones who perfectly understand us and our language? Why have you not employed MALTESE nurses who have graduated and are unemployed? Or are you waiting for some occasion such as the general election to appear benevolent and employ them if they are still here? Your vote-catching techniques are outdated and everyone can see through the smokescreen. We want service for which we have paid through our noses and continuing to pay through VAT which was increased by 20% to make good, according to another Minister, health services and Mater Dejn operation.
c.cefai
Aug 19th 2010, 13:22
"Shortageof Nurses" - Bersides local qualified nurses still unemployed, was told by a
Spanish Medic that in Spain there are a lot of nurses seeking employment abroad!!
ernest causon
Aug 19th 2010, 13:13
@Franco Xuereb
For the sake of accuracy, St Lukes never had a capacity of 1,300 beds, far from that. Perhaps I know better, I worked there for 16 years. The rest of what you wrote is not my concern and, like you, I rest my case !!!!
Franco Xuereb
Aug 19th 2010, 16:20
With reference to your comments, as a reply to what I had wrote.
Please, when you quote me do not take a figure or a word but quote the sentence; as a matter of fact I did us the word approximately 1,300 beds.
Thus as stated by your good self that you had worked there for 16 years, I had noticed that you highlighted the fact that St. Luke's did not have the capacity of 1,300 beds, but at no point did you informed the readers of the exact bed capacity............and yet after working in the said hospital for 16 years, or perhaps you do not know the bed capacity your self?
Once again I rest my case.
Carmel Cilia
Aug 19th 2010, 13:04
@J.Farrugia- Iz zmien li qieghed issemmi inti habib it tobba li dak iz-zmien kienu mheggin mil- opposizzjoni kienu fuq strajk Ghaliex? Ghax il-gvern ta dak iz-zmien fost affarijiet ohra rid li tobba mal gvern jaghtu servizz uniku fl-isptarijiet tal-poplu. Pero tinsiex ukoll li dak iz zmien kien hemm il-polyclinics miftuhin 24 siegha kuljum. Insomma hmar taqtalu denbu hmar jibqa . You are trying to minimize todays deficit by mentioning those of thirty years ago. comparisons have to be made with modern hospitals of today. It seems your argument goes on the same level as that produced by todays government when he compared the new proposed power station emissions with those of the fifty years of the Marsa one.
Something fishy is going around habib.
J Sapiano
Aug 19th 2010, 12:54
Minister please do not try to fool the common laymen.....anymore.
The problem is all about Mismanagement in Materdei, and it always encircles around Consultants They put the govt. post 2nd in priority after their private consultations / practice.
Very Systematically they are creating a backlog so that patients whome are being left stranded, pay hefty sums in private clinics / hospitals.
We need Health Ministers like Mr. Dalli, persons outside the medical practice so that they cannot put any personal interests but they are excellant Managers.
M Camilleri
Aug 19th 2010, 12:47
Mela il ministru jahseb li ahna mohh ta tigiega. semma tlett problemi. Jaf il-Ministru li dan il-Gvern ilu kwaazi 20 sena minghajr interruzzjoni. Allura jekk hemm dawn il problemi mhux sinjal li f'dawn is-snin kollha ma kienx hemm managment tajjeb. jekk ic entri tas-sahha mhumiex attrezzatati ta min hu t-tort? tal-poplu jew ta minn qed imexxxi. Jekk hemm nuqqas ta staff ta minn hu t-tort? tal-poplu jew ta minn qed imexxi? jekk il-problema socjali tan-nies xjuh mhux ghax il gvern ma ippjanax sew.
l
hallulna ghandna mohh biex nahsbu. dhaktu blna darba tnejn tlieta pero zgur li mhux aktar. il-veru gvern immexxi minn gonzii li tilef il-boxxla socjali u arroganti. g
Franco Xuereb
Aug 19th 2010, 12:23
Is the Minister namely Dr. Cassar thinks that we the general public do not have a mind of our own and thus can make our own analyzes to all the problems that the health section has been having over the years.
Let me spell it out for you Dr. Cassar, the problem lays in the bad Minister and management team that the country had in the last 15 years, where no plans for the future were foreseen, one major mistake was that where as St. Luke’s Hospital had a capacity of approximately 1,300 beds and the new hospital the so called state of the art has the capacity of circa 700 beds.
It is in my opinion that when St Luke’s hospital was opened we already could see the problem of shortage of beds (never mind the nurses) as patients ended up in the corridors, and yet our politicians decided that the new hospital with circa 700 beds capacity would be enough the serve this nation.
I rest my case..............................
A. Mizzi
Aug 19th 2010, 12:08
This is unacceptable!! Friends of mine who have just received very positive results from their studies regarding nursing since july and they are unemployed!!!! So why is there a chaos of shortage of nurses when the managements haven't even considered these new nurses!!!! It's no wonder why almost all the graduates are leaving the island to work in european countries and non european countries as well!!!
Anthony Roberts
Aug 19th 2010, 12:05
Mater Dei has a lot of wasted space - space which could have been used for wards. It was built on a gigantic scale for decor rather than for patients. People have described it as a palace not as a hospital. It's so big you get lost in it despite the 'directions'. Marie Roberts
Steve Cassar
Aug 19th 2010, 11:58
Instead of complaining no one says thanks to all those doctors & nurses who work long hours at the emergency!
I was there yesterday from 5 till midnight & yes it was crowded but the doctors & nurses gave us an excellent service! So why complain like the rest here?
Thank god we have such a hospital! learn to appreciate what we have!
lgalea
Aug 19th 2010, 13:18
Steve Cassar the people are not complaining against the doctors and nurses but against the incompetence and lack of planning by the incompetent PN administrations. The various PN administrations had been warned what was going to happen but their arrogance does not allow them to listen to reason Furthermore, who in his proper senses would build a hospital with about half the bed capacity of St Lukes when the population had greatly increased? Why is the government letting St Lukes go to ruins instead of refurbishing it to host certain cases including as an old peoples home when it is known that Mater Dejn is not enough and there is a great lack of old peoples homes? Is it for people to go to private hospitals and private old peoples homes after having paid taxes all their life? Why has the government not employed nurses when there are those who have graduated as others have said? This is the disaster brought about by a series of incompetent PN administrations and you expect people not to complaint? People have a right to complain when they are not being treated as they should and when they see their taxes squandered.
Joe Busuttil
Aug 19th 2010, 13:36
So you are ready ready to wait for hours to get seen to and also not complain if you are left somewhere on a stretcher instead of in a bed.? If he problem of nurses shortage is low pay then it's the government's job to see to it. The problem is as others have pointed out : bad management. Mr Minister ,the buck has to stop somewhere and it certainly does not stop at the nurses' or doctors' door.
C.Sammut
Aug 19th 2010, 13:47
Its actually thanks to the nurses and doctors that this section is holding up.. but its not right to make them work in such conditions.. nor to deny compromised patients the proper care required and furthermore expose them to other risks.
Steve Cassar
Aug 19th 2010, 15:38
@ lgalea if you think that labour government will make the hospital better you're completly wrong! The situation will remain the same even with nurses!
Its true the health centers are not adequate for simple medication. Former minister dalli mentioned this problem 2 years ago, yet nothing has been done so far! Just an X-Ray at mosta! I'd suggest the minister to visit personally the health centers without announcments & he will see the a different reality!
@Joe Busuttil - what do you expect? blood tests take as a minimum 2hrs to be done & there are others patients before in the queue! Do you think that private hospitals take less?
@C.Sammut i agree! And from here i thank them for their service! still there are persons who visit the emergency area for simple treatment thus increasing the load on the staff & people who need medical attention!
Deo Catania
Aug 19th 2010, 16:11
@ Steve Cassar. Ok, point taken, I just hope that the minister and even the prime minister read your comment because it's quite clear it is addressed to them. Kompli sejjer hekk.
lgalea
Aug 19th 2010, 22:15
Steve Cassar If you think that PL will allow the situation to remain as it is you are completely wrong. Why is the government allowing qualifies nurses to remain unemployed and yet seek to import Pakistani nurses?
Today when questioned about the Mater Dejn problems Dr Cassar had the temerity to say that the government is doing enough and that nurses needed patients to practice on as if there are not enough patients at Mater Dejn. Can Dr Cassar tell us whether nurses had practiced during their practical sessions at the hospital? Or do they have to wait until they are qualified???? before they start practicing? With this sheer arrogance and ostrich head hiding in front of the vast problems in the health sector how can anyone expect to move forward?
Sarah Vella
Aug 19th 2010, 11:54
Shortage of nurses - my classamtes and i have just finished our four year course meaning we are waiting to start working, hence minimizing this "shortage of nurses"........after two months there are over 50 newly graduated nurses unemployed. Another point which has already been brought up is the problem with the salary.......due to this problem many of us would also jump at the chance to work in a foreign country.....
g. scerri
Aug 19th 2010, 12:19
I believe that Dr. Cassar is trying hard within the limits imposed on him. But that still does not explain everything. While most people concentrate on Mater Dei for that is our general hospital, I would like Dr. Cassar to give an acceptable reason for the filthy and terrible state of Boffa hospital. We all know that most people there will not walk away happily and healthily and therefore all the more reason to give them some dignity in their last days. The last time I looked (last week), there were ants crawling up behind bedrests and the public toilet was filthy with flushings that did not work. Considering that Boffa does not see huge numbers of visitors, and the staff do not look overworked, who is responsible for the terrible neglect?
I.Cilia
Aug 19th 2010, 13:04
yeah sure... salary..
but did you pay for your education? definitely not... anzi you got paid to study..
Maltese salaries are what they are... i am also a graduate and complain about salaries but I do appreciate that i got educated for free and got paid to do it... and i do not jump ship at the first opportunity like many healtchare professionals are doing...
and this is also one of the problems... but no one seems to accept it..
T Camilleri
Aug 19th 2010, 13:27
g. scerri the government plan is to do away with Boffa hospital and then give it to a friend who has already been name to build a hotel in that prime site. This is the rampant "perceived" corruption with all PN Governments.
b.busuttil
Aug 19th 2010, 11:54
'Dr Cassar said that the backlog problem in the system was also due to a shortage of nurses, which was a worldwide problem.' this is today's government everyday song... even lack of beds at Mater Dei its an international problem..
Nick Falzon
Aug 19th 2010, 12:29
Have you noticed that when things go well, it's "all thanks to the Maltese worker, Maltese industry, Maltese skills". When things screw up, it's "the international situation". Funny that.
Katherine Cooke
Aug 19th 2010, 11:50
What happened to the idea that Polyclinics could do more to alleviate pressure on the hospital.
If I remember rightly, the then new Polyclinic building at Birkirkara was to have different specialists. You go there now and you are lucky to find a GP and then he sends you to Mosta who sends you to Mater Dei.
Birkirkara is a big area and needs better health facilities, not a half empty building.
John Smith
Aug 19th 2010, 11:49
One thing is for certain - Government's solution of transferring elderly patients to Zaren Vassallo's "Roseville" at a huge cost is NOT sustainable. Instead of giving incentives to relatives to take care of their elderly, Government decides to fork out huge amounts of money to have these elderly people transferred to private homes! I'm sorry Minister, but it doesn't appear to me as if you're being given the correct advice by your army of Directors at your Health Department. How abour urgently reorganising the Department?
lgalea
Aug 19th 2010, 13:30
John Smith that is known as scratching the back of friends or friends of friends. Why is St Lukes being allowed to go to ruins when it could easily have been refurbished as an old peoples home and for long-term hospital patients? Because then friends and friends of friends backs cannot be scratched for them to scratch the PN's back at collection times with tens of thousands of euros being produced from different pockets.
A Cassar
Aug 19th 2010, 15:12
Dear Mr Smith,
I can assure you that the directors in the Health Department are more than competent in solving ALL of our health care problems. They DO give the appropriate advice to the politicians. They KNOW how to solve the problems.
The only problems is that politicians think of their political future and do NOT heed the advice given. They know where the problem is. They know that they can spend far less money and get better results. They know how to solve the problems, but politicians put in the red tape, they manage all the money.
Maria Vella
Aug 19th 2010, 11:44
All I can say is that it took us fourteen years to build a hospital, and we still do not have enough sapce. The building is big enough it looks spacious and decent, maybe too much for government hospital. Our medical staff is one of the best in the world yet people feel let down by being left in corridors. Blaming it on shortage of staff is not the solution. This is a case of sheer mismanagement. which has to be seen to. Maybe the governement needs to speak to the private sdector to learn how to manage anything efficiently. Boosting of state of the art equipment is not enough to run a hospital.
Ray Buhagiar
Aug 19th 2010, 12:03
'Maybe the governement needs to speak to the private sdector to learn how to manage anything efficiently'. Are you aware that St.PhilipsHospital closed its doors? Do you know how much it costs to do a simple x-ray in a local private hospital? Compare that and other services to UK and see whether local prices are inflated or not. Are you prepared to pay for some services given at Mater Dei Hospital? Of course not, you prefer 'free' service. If there is mismanagement than management should be given to an independent foreign company to upgrade standards. I suggest they start by increasing their salary that is comparable to their level of education. Do you know that some of the health professionals who are taking care of you have a master's degree from UK universities. Yet they are being paid peanuts.
I have friends working at Mater Dei who are reading for a doctorate yet their salary will remain the same as soon as they graduate.
l.farrugia
Aug 19th 2010, 11:37
@jason attard qal dawn il-precizi kellmiet Dr Cassar said that the backlog problem in the system was also due to a shortage of nurses, which was a worldwide problem." This guy is funny! Nahseb li tad-dahk ( funny) huwa min kiteb dan il-kumment ghax ma qalx ghaliex ghadda dan il-kumment, Jiena inzur diversi pajjizi u fejn fic-cert li fl-ewropa zgur li hawn nuqqas ta nurses. Naf ukoll li kien hemm nurses maltin li gew imhegga minn hbieb taghhom barra sabiex imorru jahdmu fl-isptarijiet kemm Inglizi, u anki Belgjani.
John micallef
Aug 19th 2010, 11:34
Hsibtu ha jgidibom u jgib il- fatti li mhux vera!!!!
Is-soltu problema: Prioritaztion level does not exist.
J Farrugia
Aug 19th 2010, 11:53
jekk mhux hmar felu. xorta rridu nitfghu il-htija fuq il-Gvern. L-inqas jekk nafu xhinuma l-problemi. Nixtieq nara lil dawn kollha li jikkummentaw fin-negattiv x'kienu jaghmlu huma meta certu servizzi kienu INEZISTENTI. B'tobba barranin li l-inqas jifmhu kelma bl-ingliz. ALmenu l-Gvern jammetti li hemm il-problemi u li dawn il-problemi jridu z-zmien biex jissolvew. U kultant l-inqas jiddependi minnhu imma minn awtoritajiet indipendenti apposta. U hemm bzonn nghidu lill-pubbliku biex ma jkabbarx il-prblemi tal-isptar billi jkun TRASKURAT, NEGLIGENTI, u BLA MOHH, meta jsehhu certi ncidenti li setghu gew evitati bi ftit attenzjoni. Kull meta nisma l-ambulanzi ghaddejjin iwersqu s-sireni nghid povri tobba u nurses kemm ser ikollhom xoghol. U kemm ser jizdiedu l-pazjenti fil-kurituri tal-isptar. L-Isptar huwa dak li hu.
John Micallef
Aug 19th 2010, 12:34
Imma skuzi ta, ma nistax nifhem kif tasal titfa il problema ta haddiehor jekk mhux fuq il-gvern!!
Iva it-tort huwa tieghu, ghax biex jonfoq fl-affarijiet kozmetici issib flus, u fejn tidhol is-sahha kull ma sab huwa il-hin biex jemenda lgi biex tagevola kuntrattur ta gewwa, biex min ghandu jinxtara impjant li ha jmarrad aktar il- Malta taghna b'mard respratorji!!!
Nispera li la jitla il-labour mintiex xi wiehed li tibdel id-diska habib, ghax il- hain jghaml min jghamlu hazin jibqa.
TRASKURAT, NEGLIGENTI, u BLA MOHH huwa dak il- bniedem li jghamel progett bhal sptar, li qabel jiftah ikun diga zghir u jonfoq flus f-affarijeit li ma jituawx u jinsa afarijiet importanti.
By the way, int naqa konservattiv ta, biex tassal tikumpara ma 25 sena ilu, kieku jien nisthi.
lgalea
Aug 19th 2010, 13:38
Iva J Farrugia, it-tort huwa kollu tal-Gvern għaliex kien imwissi minn kulħadd dwar il-problemi li kien se jkun hemm u minflok irranġa ħalli l-problemi ma jinħolqux aktar ħoloqhom. Għalfejn dawk il-mostri ta kuriduri u spiċċajna bin-nofs tas-sodod li kien hemm San Luqa meta l-popolazzjoni kibret ħafna aktar minn meta sar l-isptar San Luqa? Dak issejjaħlu ppjanar serju sur Farrugia? Li ma taħsibx biex ikollok tobba u nurses biżżejjed meta tkun imiwssi dwar in-nuqqas li hemm tagħhom huwa ppjanar tajjeb sur Farrugia? Dak jissejjah nuqqas ta' ppjanar serju, arroganza u inkompetenza grassa minn min jaħseb li huwa xi Alla falz u li jaħseb u jgħid huwa tajjeb u dak kollu li jgħid ħaddieħor huwa ħażin kif kienu u għadhom il-Gvernijiet Nazzjonalisti sur Farrugia.
Adrian Cachia
Aug 19th 2010, 11:32
A digital X ray system inside a need of refurbishment clinic....
Dominic Chircop
Aug 19th 2010, 11:31
If the lack of beds is being attributed to a shortage of nurses does it mean that, next time around, rather than being hospitalised in a bed, one would lie on some buxom nurse ?
J. Schembri
Aug 19th 2010, 11:29
Personally I do not know what this Minister and his highly paid behind-the-desk top officials have achieved till now to improve health care services. One thing for sure, this Minister likes publicity and BBQs !
Lawrence Bonello
Aug 19th 2010, 11:27
What a weak reaction!! Nippuzaw mal-laham fuq il-barbecue u naghmlu l-frejjeg!!
Charles Sammut
Aug 19th 2010, 11:25
"He noted that the Nurses Council, which was an autonomous body, was processing 40 applications from Pakistani nurses to see if these would eventually be registered in Malta."
And would these Pakistani nurses choose to work in Malta if they can work in some other much better paying EU country?
Besides, with about 8,000 unemployed, why don't the authorities see what they can do to encourage 40 of these 8,000 to become nurses? That's 0.005%, that's just one person out of 200. No wonder the welfare system is falling apart. It pays to be idle. And I don't blame them.
A. Zahra
Aug 19th 2010, 14:37
Nurses are not maids. They must have a high level of education and qualify in nursing. Most of our unemployed have a very low standard of education. They are too unqualified and unemployable.
gcForte
Aug 19th 2010, 11:22
@ Minister Joseph Cassar......... " WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THREE FACTORS THAT ARE CAUSING OVERCROWDING WHICH YOU ARE ADMITTING ? " Sorry for using the capital letters. But don`t you think that who is responsible should resign instant ?. It cost us lot of money, so we will have a state of the art hospital, and what is happening now is like what is happening in the third world countries. Even at S.L.H we hardly had situations like these. SHAME............
Claude Sammut
Aug 19th 2010, 11:20
This is funny! The minister is blaming it all on a shortage of nurses and yet Nursing Students who have completed their final year have been waiting close to 2 Months to be called in for work. And why is it that Nursing students need to pass from a "communications skills" exam and we are employing Pakistani nurses who can hardly speak any English!?
Yanes Desira
Aug 19th 2010, 11:18
Mr Cassar......why is that when a problem arise at Mater Dei..stating always re shortage of nurses !!! should you look back in records you should find that several exams were failed or forced to fail due any curcumstance arising by institute of health care MALTA. An example is given at a final practical exam in 2005 were from 100 students 75 failed this exam...what can cause this failure......maybe foreign nurses to work in malta ???? and whats behind this matter ??? How can nursing student cope with finance stipends given were during summer period a shift is being performed DDNRO with a minimal pay !! thats how we are encouraging nursing students to be part of a health sceme career.....
patrick zammit
Aug 19th 2010, 11:15
Once we have enough staff (if ever), why not use St Lukes or Boffa (which will soon be empty) as a long term (chronic) unit for the elderly instead of giving them for peanuts to some contractor?
M.Bezzina
Aug 19th 2010, 11:13
Dr Cassar said that the backlog problem in the system was also due to a shortage of nurses, which was a worldwide problem.
Imma Dr.Deguara kien qal li haw izzejjed nurses xi armajn 8snin ilu!!Mela kemm irtiraw min dak iz zmien law??Kemm lahqu ??U x qieghed igieghel xeba nurses jew jitilqu mal privat inkellha jdabbru rashom il barra minn din il gzira!!
andrew kelly
Aug 19th 2010, 11:31
no one has to worry.....as in 3 years time everything will be solved!
G Falzon
Aug 19th 2010, 11:36
The nursing job is not enticing as other jobs and could only be made so through higher salaries and better conditions. A nurse could not opt for telework and other family friendly measures, for example. The hours of work are very taxing. What are the benefits etc that would help one decide to join the nursing community? Has the raising of pension age been considered? We used to say nursing is a vocation......
M.Bezzina
Aug 19th 2010, 12:26
@Andrew Kelly
no one has to worry.....as in 3 years time everything will be solved!
Ha nghidlek habib jien minix nitkellem politikalment!!Ma nemminx li 3 snin ohra l affarijiet se jinbidlu mill lejl ghan nhar jien l ghada tal elezzjoni sew jekk jerga jitla Dr.Gonzi u sew jekk jitla Dr.Muscat hadd mhu se jgibli il paga id dar xorta wahda irrid immur ix xol.Pero birr rispett kollu lejn il PN dal gvern ilu jiggverna allura certu 'issues' zgur li se jigu indirrizzati lilu.La niftahru li ghadna 'state of the art hospital' u nassigurak li vera dan nippretendi li servizz ikun 'State of the art' ukoll. Billi nikkrittika ma jfissirx li jien kontra jew favur il PN pero li ddum tistenna l emergenza u wisq iktar 'overcrowding' go sptar bhall ma jamilx gid ghall hadd u bir ragun li hafna jgergru!!Imbaghad in nies li jkunu jistennew l emergenza man nurses imorru jgergru ma jgergrux mal awtoritajiet!!
jason Attard
Aug 19th 2010, 11:11
"Dr Cassar said that the backlog problem in the system was also due to a shortage of nurses, which was a worldwide problem."
This guy is funny!
Ray Buhagiar
Aug 19th 2010, 11:24
I suggest you google 'Shortage of Nurses in EU' and you will get your answer smack on your computer screen. Before commenting get informed.
Nurses and other healthcare professions are graduating with a university degree which is at par with that of other established professions yet they are not paid well. Hence some of them move abroad to get better salaries. It seems we are replacing these with nurses from philippines, Africa etc. Of course this will be a stepping stone to move to other European Countries.
This situation could only be improved if health professionals are given a salary at par with that of the EU. I would assume this also applies to the teaching profession.
patrick zammit
Aug 19th 2010, 13:36
R Buhagiar - re your last para.
That would be unfair to workers in other careers.
VV Bartolo
Aug 19th 2010, 11:08
joke of the year!!! thisn has been a long term problem since the opening of mater dei state of the art hospital