The government was urged today to brief workers at Gozo general hospital about their future.

Gozo shadow minister Chris Said said the 800 workers at the hospital were suffering uncertainty because they had been told that their number was excessive. 

The government needed to be clear about its plans to privatise services in Gozo and how workers would be deployed.

Dr Said said that according to reports, the workers had been told that some may need to be transferred to Malta. The worst affected will be low grade workers such as  cleaners and nursing assistants.

The prime minister had promised work for the Gozitans in Gozo and that promise should be honoured, Dr Said said. 

Health Shadow Minister Claudette Buttigieg said the government also needed to be clear about its plans to private some health services, including those in Gozo. She too expressed solidarity with the workers.

In a reaction, the Secretariat for Health said its plans for Gozo would see service for Gozitan patients brought to a par with that given in Malta.

It said Gozo hospital workers would remain on the government payroll and they would continue to have current working conditions.

No one would be transferred to Malta and work opportunities in the Gozo medical sector would actually increase.