MUMN actions 'endanger lives,' Health Ministry claims
The Health Ministry said this afternoon that industrial action ordered by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses at Mt Carmel Hospital was irresponsible and endangered patients' lives.
In a strongly-worded statement, the ministry said that nurses had been directed by the union not to collect medicines from the hospital storer for use in the wards.
When the hospital management engaged nurses employed by a contractor to take the medicines to the wards, the union issued a new directive for medicines taken to the wards by the contractor's nurses not to be administered, the ministry said.
As a result, patients were not given their medicines on time.
It was only after the hospital management's intervention that the medicines were administered.
The Ministry said it condemned such irresponsible actions and said it would continue to work in the interests of the patients.
The ministry also noted that in the space of three days, the union had also ordered industrial action which affected patients at health centres and those at the renal unit.
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Peter Spiteri
Sep 10th 2010, 10:34
To all those attacking nurses. How do you feel if people attacked you because your management has ignored you and other safety regulations and continued piling work on you instead of attacking the management? I hope that none of you had defended the doctors during their strike fomented by the PN to try to topple the lawfully-elected and legal PL government because if you did it has a very strong smell of hypocrisy. As others have indicated your defense of the incompetent and arrogant management will serve no end. Yes, nurses and everyone has to right to take industrial action and yes, third parties will always be involved in any industrial action.
J. Debono
Sep 10th 2010, 09:03
It's very simple, dear Minister!
HONOUR the agreement reached 3 months ago, and the patients will not suffer!!
Martin Buttigieg
Sep 10th 2010, 08:28
The MUMN is great, i t is doing it's job properly. Keep it up!. Let's ask some in interesting questions: Are the Nurses and careworkers being respected by their high rank staff ? , Are the Nurses and careworkers facing problems with short staff?, Are the Nurses and care workers worried about their future seeing foreign nurses comming to Malta by Employment Agencies to take their jobs? Are the Nurses and care workers payed properly or they have a misery basic salary with another sum of ward allowance ( which are not being considered when they retire by Pension)?. Are the great heads making student nurses life difficult ? Is the Nurse job respected by the Government, Are there Nurses resigning from work due to the difficulties at their working conditions? Where is Peppi Azzopardi to check all this ?
G Falzon
Sep 10th 2010, 02:51
These actions by the union are very irresponsible moves! The service being given by most of the Government nurses leaves "much" to be desired. A very short visit to Mater Dei or any health centre would immediately attest to this and without an iota of doubt.
Christian Sciberras
Sep 10th 2010, 00:34
I agree, this whole issue is just a great danger to everyone.
Nurses are not indispensable, as MUMN seem to proclaim!
Citing MUMN sources, how are nurses supposed to reply to emergency calls while ignoring anything else?
It isn't like people call hospitals for fun, is it??
axuereb
Sep 9th 2010, 19:44
This is so unfair!Why should patients, who are already suffering due to illness be made to suffer more because of a dispute between the MUMN and the Government?Can someone please put our minds at rest that our loved ones are being given the proper care they deserve?
c. tabone
Sep 9th 2010, 18:28
Why is it that every time a dispute between the unions and the government arises, it is always the consumer that is affected. When public transport , the doctors, the teachers, the nurses etc etc went on an industrial action, the common people where affected and not the government.
Carm Ellul
Sep 9th 2010, 18:20
Apples with Apples:
Why not run the local renal unit in the same way?
The Renal Unit located at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey is a 5 stationed unit operated as a partnership between the Guernsey Health and Social Service Department and Guys and St.Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.
The unit can dialyse up to 5 patients in any one shift and each shift has at least one trained nurse and one health care assistant on duty with most shifts having at least 2 trained nurses.
Two nurses for 5 patients. The equipment is such that patients are even taught how to use it themselves.
If such procedures are proposed in Malta , will it be Armageddon?
lgalea
Sep 9th 2010, 18:10
Why don't you cut the crap Health Ministry and solve the problem? Why did it take you so long to solve it when you had been waned about the situation years ago? Why did a minister a couple of years ago say we had enough nurses? Incompetence and arrogance of the highest level, that's why.
Paul Borg
Sep 9th 2010, 18:02
Nurses should be individualy held responsible for any mishaps that the patients might suffer as a result from the Union Directives!!
MUMN should embark on a survey to see how many nurses are not doing nursing related duties.
karm cassar
Sep 9th 2010, 18:02
Just what is the MUMN up to.? I tried to follow their actions but I can't understand what they want.
John Attard
Sep 9th 2010, 17:49
The Hospital Management acted wisely; why should patients be made to suffer.And when is all this great inconveniece going to end. There is a limit to everything People who have to use Clinics do not go there for fun,but due to various circumstances ,top of which must be their financial limitations. state of health etc. Let us all hope that good sense will prevail soonest by all concerned ,so as to end this hardship for the innocent patients ,both in and out.