(Adds government statement)
The Medical Association of Malta has criticised the government for a memorandum doctors received last Sunday, which encouraged them to postpone non-urgent operations.
The government this evening however deniedthis was the aim of its circular.
Addressing a news conference this morning, MAM president Martin Balzan said the circular, which was probably the government's reaction to threats of industrial action at operating theatres by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, should never have been issued and definitely not before consultation with the union.
On Saturday, MUMN suspended its action for a month "to give time for new operational protocols agreed with the health ministry".
Dr Balzan said that doctors increased the number of operations by 10 per cent – something that was unheard of in any other government department.
So it was unfair to say that doctors' work practices were to blame for the situation and the solution was not to reduce operations.
Dr Balzan said that the shorter term solution for operating theatres was to deploy some of the 250 nurses who would be graduating next May/June. He criticised the MUMN for being too hasty and said that had it waited, like MAM was doing, the situation would have been mitigated.
He stressed, however, that this was a trade union issue and the experience on the ground was that nurses and doctors worked very well together.
The MAM president said that the ultimate cause of the bed shortage problem, which dated back to the 1980s, was a lack of community care services, beds for elderly and rehabilitation facilities, among others. These problems were ending up at Mater Dei where bed supply was not matching demand.
"There is no overnight solution, a solution has to be long-term and take the country to 2020. This is not easy. There has to be sufficient space, staff and money."
Dr Balzan criticised the government for reducing the number of doctors at health centres because of the budget cuts.
How could the government increase X Ray machines and reduce the number of doctors. Emergency services were the last thing government should have touched. "This is misplaced austerity," he said.
GOVERNMENT WANTS WORK IN HOSPITAL TO BE ORGANISED BETTER
The Health Ministry denied that the aim of a circular it issued on Sunday was to reduce the number of operations.
It said in a statement it appreciated the work of all professionals at Mater Dei Hospital for patients to be given quality care.
This was confirmed through the circular, which was issued with the aim to better organising work to the benefit of patients, professionals and other workers.
The ministry said it also noted MAM's statement of appreciation to nurses and other professionals with whom doctors worked every days in different circumstances, including in operating theatres.