Nurses have been ordered to leave two beds empty in each of Mater Dei Hospital's six surgical wards to allow space for Casualty patients who need an emergency operation.

The nurses' union gave the directive in protest at the "complete lack of planning" by Mater Dei Hospital's management who, it said, did not ensure there were enough beds for scheduled surgeries.

This bed mismanagement took up space needed for emergencies that could crop up. This was ultimately to the detriment of Casualty patients who ended up waiting for hours and of nurses who had to deal with the problems, the president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, Paul Pace, said.

After industrial action was called on Wednesday, nurses were directed yesterday to ignore the hospital's bed manager's instructions and keep two empty beds in each ward after 2 p.m., the time when consultants and doctors headed home and Casualty became busier.

Mr Pace explained that the Casualty department usually needed, at least, 25 beds after 2 p.m.

He stressed that, according to the directives, there would be no patient discharges from the wards and patients requiring emergency treatment would not be affected by the action as they would get first preference. However, if all ward beds, except two, were full anyone who turned up for a scheduled operation would be directed to customer care.

"What we are doing is for the benefit of the nation. This action is not about better salaries or working conditions for nurses but about improving management in the hospital," Mr Pace said, adding that the union was asking for better management policies and protocols that had been promised for July.

"Ultimately, this lack of management is causing patients to suffer. We are doing this for all Maltese who need the Casualty department at some point in their life. Why should you have to wait for eight to nine hours for a bed if you need one?" Mr Pace said.

Questions sent to the Health Parliamentary Secretary yesterday evening remained unanswered by the time of writing.