A vote of confidence in the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses not only saved the day for the leadership but also seems to have mended a growing division that was widening with a breakaway group of former council members.

The meeting, on Monday night, was meant to give the union leadership an opportunity to explain its work to members following a row with the breakaway group.

The dispute now seems to have been resolved, with breakaway group leader Tommy Dimech describing Monday's meeting as positive and one that bodes well for the relations between the union and its former council members.

The group has stopped collecting signatures for a petition calling for a vote of no confidence in the present union leadership. This follows mediation between Mr Dimech and union general secretary Colin Galea.

"The meeting was positive and it seems like information is now being passed on to the members," Mr Dimech said soon after the meeting wrapped up.

Talks between the two sides are expected to continue.

Union president Paul Pace said he was pleased with the meeting's outcome, adding that the union will continue working in the best interest of the nursing profession and the patients.

Sources said Monday's meeting, which was not open to the media, was attended by about 300 nurses and midwives - the union has 2,500-odd members - and saw Mr Pace explain the union's work since the new council was elected in March last year.

After question-time, the members asked for a vote of confidence in the union's council and its work, which was given by the majority of those present by a show of hands.

The union is still considering the possibility of withdrawing a judicial protest filed in court last week against former council member Corinne Ward, who was asked to withdraw allegations which the union felt were aimed to harm it and its leadership.

Ms Ward had claimed that a government grant of thousands of euros had never been mentioned during council meetings. On Monday, Ms Ward filed a counter-protest denying the union's allegations.

Mediating talks are also under way between Mr Pace and his predecessor, Rudolph Cini. Mr Cini was threatened to be removed from honorary president after he questioned hard-hitting directives issued by the union last month.