The Health Ministry has already started taking on proposals made by the nurses union in a bid to ease industrial action, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne said earlier today.

In the first official meeting between the newly appointed parliamentary secretary and the Malta Union of Nurses and Midwives, Dr Fearne said the government had implemented a number of proposals put forward by the union. These included changes to the Mater Dei Hospital emergency department.

The latest order issued by the union came on the back of a decision to halt dermatology outpatient services on Sundays.

Dr Fearne said the Health Ministry wanted to work closely with unions to find an amicable solution to any disputes.

“We feel that the union’s views are those of the health care professionals so we want to work together for the good of the whole health care profession,” he said.

MUNM president Paul Pace said he was excited by the prospect of finding a solution to the health care industry’s problems. The union will be presenting a report on its proposed way forward in the coming weeks.

“This is about what led to the directives. The last straw was when (Former Health Minister) Godfrey Farrugia went behind our backs to make changes. We can’t have situations like that,” he said.