Two injured Libyans are due to be flown to Malta by air ambulance later today, the fourth and fifth patients to be treated in Malta in the recent upsurge of violence in the North African country.

Two were flown to Malta on Saturday and another yesterday.

They are being flown from the military airport of Mitiga near Tripoli, with a two-week battle still raging for control of the capital's main airport.

Last week, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Chris Fearne, said a contingency plan had been prepared to treat the injured while ensuring that the quality of service for ordinary patients did not deteriorate.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses had urged the government not to bring over patients from Libya if they strained the health service such that not enough nurses or suitable equipment were available.

According to international standards, there should be one nurse per patient at ITU. This was hardly adhered to normally as it was closer to three patients per nurse. Placing extra beds in ITU for the wounded in Libya would continue to have an impact on the nursing ratio. Patients from Libya would also have a direct impact on surgery, hospital acquired infections and bed availability, the union had warned.