Updated 3.15 p.m. -
The Health Division said this afternoon that it may refer a statement by the MUMN on a shortage of nurses' uniforms to the police.
The division said it wanted to confirm that all nurses were being provided with a uniform.
"An adjudication process for the procurement of nursing uniforms in terms of the Government Procurement Regulations is presently underway and is expected to be concluded shortly. Unfortunately, the recent actions, including the statement issued by (MUMN president) Mr Paul Pace today, may have jeopardised this adjudicating process.
"It is for this reason that the matter may be referred to the Police for immediate investigation as required by law.
"The Health Division would also like to underline that the whole adjudication process cannot be subjected to any interferance both from within and outside the Ministry."
Earlier, the MUMN complained that essential items of nurses' uniforms have been out of stock for two years.
"The present situation is that the list of out of stock items is not just limited to the essential drugs which the general public make use on a day-to-day basis but now it has extended to essential items which nurses have to use on their patients for vital procedures. Even the nursing uniforms and the nursing shoes have been out of stock for the last two years in a clear sign of neglect from the Health Division the that health and safety of the nurses is not a major concern to the Health Division," the MUMN claimed.
The union said the out of stock lists have become the “rule of the day” with no one within the Health Division being accountable to either the suffering of the public nor the health and safety of the nurses. No one was ever held accountable for any item which was out of stock.
The union said nurses could not work without proper attire such as a proper uniform and dedicated shoes and if the Heath Division remained indifferent, it would take all necessary measures to address such a situation.
"If the attitude of sweeping problems under the carpet is convenient for the Health Division, MUMN will be the union to pull such carpet from under the feet of the Health Division," the union said.