British Diane Duric, who moved to Malta in December 2006, three months after she qualified as an Operating Department Practitioner, was surprised – and even a little disappointed – that there were no openings in the public sector.

Although the local authorities were set to introduce a course for the new breed of paramedics, who could help plug the waiting lists for operations, the course, which was meant to start in October, was put on hold as part of an agreement reached between the health authorities and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses. The latter had threatened widespread instructions to nurses that could have slowed down hospital services.

Helen Booth, who chairs Britain’s College of Operating Department Practitioners, said she was “very surprised” that a move to introduce the specialisation in Malta was halted.

“From a global point of view, it is very short sighted (to stop the introduction of theatre technicians) because countries are finding it very difficult to recruit sufficient nurses to fulfil this role,” she told The Times.

In the UK, Operating Department Practitioners, which were going to be referred to as theatre technicians in Malta, are accredited professionals who help out during surgery. Dr Booth said they were specialised in surgery, anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic care and could do the three roles in theatres, offering a level of flexibility.