Nursing officers who work in the government health service are feeling insecure about their future since major transfers announced a month ago have not yet materialised, according to the nurses’ union.

The nursing officers, who head nurses in various wards, still have no clue as to whether they will be transferred to wards, another hospital or department, Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses president Paul Pace said.

This was “leading to the demotivation and demoralisation” of these nursing officers.

He said one-off transfers happened rarely and this was the first mass transfer announced in many years. Nursing officers had not requested these transfers.

Mr Pace said he hoped the moves would not be made during the festive season as it could cause problems with vacation leave through changes in rosters.

The Health Ministry pointed out that the union was well aware that the implementation of the transfers was now up to the hospital administration.

The union failed to point out that the transfers were being carried out to accommodate 50 new nursing officers and that the union was being consulted throughout the process.

The nursing officers to be transferred would each be contacted individually so that their new role would be explained to them, the ministry said, calling on the union to act professionally when dealing with such issues.