Mater Dei Hospital’s former nursing head said the compensation paid to her after she was transferred in violation of her contract does not even start to cover the “ordeal” she went through.

Last month, the government took up a recommendation by the Health Commissioner to pay €2,000 in compensation to Charmaine Attard following a damning report by the Office of the Ombudsman on the way she was “humiliated” by being transferred to another hospital.

“It was never an issue of money. I wanted justice about the injustice committed when I was removed from a position that was mine, for which I had a contract. I want to be reinstated,” Ms Attard told Times of Malta yesterday.

“It is not a question of money but a question of having what is rightfully mine: my position at Mater Dei Hospital.”

Had the government read the Health Commissioner’s report about the way it had “blatantly” breached her contract conditions, the right thing to do would have been to reinstate her, she added.

It was never an issue of money. I wanted justice

Asked whether the compensation covered the damages she suffered, Ms Attard said “of course not”.

Ms Attard said the transfer affected her dignity, life and family and she is still receiving treatment for the psychological ordeal she is going through.

She was appointed director in 2009 after a call for applications by the Foundation for Medical Services and reappointed in 2012 when her three-year term was up.

Two months after the election of the new government, Ms Attard was verbally informed by the Health Minister’s former head secretariat, Claudio Tonna, that she had to renounce her position.  A week later FMS informed her that her services were required at Karen Grech Rehabilitation Hospital.

In September, she filed a judicial protest against the Prime Minister, Health Minister and the FMS, asking to be reinstated.

Earlier this year, the Ombudsman’s Commissioner for Health recommended that Ms Attard should be reinstated. If this were not possible, she should be awarded €2,000 in compensation, he said.

Following the recommendations she took her battle for reinstatement a step further and filed an application in the First Hall of the Civil Court against the Prime Minister, the Health Minister and the FMS.

Although Ms Attard received €2,000 last month, the legal procedures will continue.

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