Nurses and midwives have expressed anxiety about their futures ahead of the redevelopment of St Luke’s and Gozo hospitals by a private investor.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said it was expecting “difficult negotiations” to ensure that its members enjoyed better conditions of work and that patients would receive higher-quality healthcare in an improved environment.

Vitalis Global Healthcare, owned by a Singaporean investment firm, was announced last week as the preferred bidder to redevelop the hospitals in Guardamangia and Gozo.

The company is expected to make a €200 million investment and will develop and run the two hospitals on a 30-year concession, providing a mix of private beds and others contracted to the government.

The nurses’ union said the anxiety caused by the involvement of a private investor, while inevitable, was harmful to professionals who faced difficult conditions every day in ensuring an adequate level of care for their patients.

“MUMN will be involved in discussions with the foreign investor to ensure not only that members continue to enjoy the same work conditions they have today but that these conditions can be improved,” it said.

It also expressed serious concern about the shortage of nurses in the country and warned that the situation could get worse if measures were not taken in the short, medium and long term to address it.

“MUMN is working with the government on two aspects: to improve the current working conditions of nurses and to engage foreign nurses on a temporary basis.”

Health Minister Konrad Mizzi told Times of Malta on Saturday talks with the unions would start immediately and that all employees would remain on government books.

“I anticipate difficult discussions but this is a situation where we will have to employ more people and the project will offer workers additional opportunities,” he said.