The Health Department said today it is taking the necessary measures to ensure that operations planned for today and for the future will be held as planned in the interests of the patients.

In a statement over what the department said were directives by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN), the department said the hospital management would ensure that while the break times of nurses were respected, there was no danger to patients.

In a reaction, MUMN President Paul Pace said the MUMN had not issued any directives.

He said the union had only told the nurses to take the breaks they were entitled to.

“Since when does telling the workers to take their break amount to a directive?” he asked.

The Health Department said it was working to increase the number of operations performed at Mater Dei and it had therefore created the grade of technicians who would work in operating theatres under the superivsion of trained nurses, as was done in other EU countries. These technicians would free up nurses for other duties.

The department said its efforts for the theatre nurses to have the necessary support was not being appreciated by the MUMN.

It appealed to the MUMN to cooperate with the administration in the interests of the patients and the nurses whom the union represented.