Godfrey Grima's letter Mater Dei - Hardly What We Expected (November 23) highlighted, in a public forum, the attitude problem of some nurses who have simply taken "a job" and who have no concept whatsoever of service or vocation in a caring profession.

The Director General of Health Care Services replied in a sympathetic tone but proposed to limit the circulation of the results of his investigation to a direct communication with Mr Grima.

I suggest that this is out of order since the matter is certainly one of public interest.

I can understand that there may be reluctance to shed inappropriate staff members at a time when there is still a shortage of nurses but surely, professionally responsible senior nurses, ward sisters, or whatever they are titled today, should be given the authority and a clear green light to take action in this regard.

There was a time when such enforcement of professional standards would have led to political backlash and physical or professional retribution. I trust that this is no longer the case.