Updated: Government-MUMN hold 'cordial and effective' meeting

The Ministry of Health and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses this afternoon held a two-hour meeting focused mainly on the shortage of nurses.

The meeting was held minutes after it was announced that the union had lifted industrial action.

The ministry had made the lifting of the industrial action a condition for talks to be held. The MUMN is protesting especially over an acute shortage of nurses.

The Ministry of Health said that today's talks, headed by Health Minister Joe Cassar and MUMN President Paul Pace, were 'cordial and effective'. The focus was on the nurses' job description, the number of nurses in the health service and how nurses could be supported by other workers.

Also discussed was a revision of policies, including the use of support staff from the hospital pharmacies.

Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea took part in the meeting.

The MUMN had held industrial action at the Renal Unit of Mater Dei Hospital. Nurses at Mt Carmel Hospital had been ordered not to pick up medicines from the hospital pharmacy and industrial action was also taken at the health centres.

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100919/local/interview-nursing-an-industrial-dispute