The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) said today that the situation at Gozo hospital was deteriorating, with an insufficient number of beds available for surgery for men and women.

It recalled that last month it had appealed  to the Health Division to address the 'precarious' situation since several beds were being occupied by elderly patients or social cases, leaving no beds for acutely ill patients or patients who needed surgery.

It said it had been constrained to issue directives to stop elective surgery in the Female General Ward since the hospital management did not act.

"The situation from the last press release has gone from bad to worst. The number of women placed in the Male General Ward have increased from four to eight. The increase of female social cases in the Male General Ward has caused various cancellations of operations not only in the female wards but now also in the male wards since beds for surgical and orthopaedic operations are no longer available," the union said.

"Gozo General Hospital will soon not be in a position to allow admissions for people suffering with respiratory infections which are very common during winter months if this crisis is allowed to persist."

The MUMN said that although the situation was desperate, the top hospital official was hardly seen in the wards to address the transfer of social cases.

It urged minister Konrad Mizzi to involve himself and warned that if the situation was allowed to continue,  the health and safety of the patients would be at stake.