The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses is directing MUMN nurses, midwives, nursing officers and deputy nursing officers at Mater Dei, Karen Grech Hospital, Boffa and Mount Carmel Hospitals not to attend meetings or handle council and general election voting documents.

They have also been directed not to be directly or indirectly involved in the electoral process for any type of election.

In a letter to Health Minister Joe Cassar, the union said it had always contested the responsibilities imposed nursing officers and deputy nursing officers in the process of the general or council elections and referenda.

It said that although it had sent several e-mails on the issue, these were ignored by the health division.

Nurses and midwives sign for patients’ voting documents and have added responsibilities regarding the voting documents, not to mention additional paper work, the union said.

It said it will no longer allow nurses and midwives to handle any work on the electoral process in their respective wards

The only process the MUMN will allow at this point is for its members to accompany severely sick patients to the voting booths, it said.