A partial agreement has been reached between the nurses’ union and the Health Department on indemnity insurance for nurses.

Through the agreement, the government could only request refunds when voluntary damages or gross negligence amounting to recklessness were proven, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses said this morning.

It said the government was assuming responsibility for civil liability in the event of claims for damages, including reasonable legal costs according to existing tariffs, against nurses/midwives or members of other health care professions in government employment, arising out of the exercise of their professional duties within the public service.

The MUMN said there still remained the issue of criminal procedures which could be initiated following a magesterial or police inquiry.

The union said it would be having further meetings on Monday to try to get the government to pay a reasonable fee for legal assistance in such cases.

It also wanted to ensure that no automatic suspension occured from the Health Department when a patient or relative filed a police report.

It said it would be requesting that when a nurse/midwife suspended from duty was declared not guilty by the courts, he/she was awarded all dues, including allowances.