Union: ambulances falling to pieces

Patients and nurses sometimes use cable ties to hold ambulance parts together as they “are falling to pieces”, the nurses’ union president claimed yesterday.

Paul Pace said the 12 ambulances currently zipping around the island were not roadworthy and were unsafe for both patients and medical staff.

The Health Ministry vehemently denied the claims, saying all seven ambulances operating from Mater Dei Hospital had passed their Vehicle Roadworthiness Test. A spokesman said approximately €63,000 a year were spent on repairs.

However, the authorities were in the process of adjudicating tenders for the provision of 11 new ambulances over three years, the spokesman added.

On Sunday, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses directed nurses at the Emergency and Accident Department not to travel on defective ambulances.

The union recently issued similar directives for Mosta health centre nurses because its ambulance was in a “despicable” state.

Mr Pace yesterday cited a litany of faults ranging from non-functional air-conditioners to dislodged seats and broken sirens.

“Can you imagine an ambulance driving through Malta’s narrow and busy streets without a siren? It’s crazy. The Mater Dei ambulances are in a dismal state, which is totally unacceptable.”

He said relatives, patients or nurses sometimes used cable ties to hold parts together: “It’s not the first time whole shelving units have fallen on patients or nurses.”

He said the Health Division had repeatedly promised to buy a fleet of new ambulances but this never materialised.

He claimed the division was spending €150 a day to hire replacements purchased and imported directly from the UK after having been discarded by the British health authorities. The ministry spokesman said the cost varied from €88 to €110 a day, depending on the number being hired.