The MUMN in a statement today expressed regret at  the which it said was   caused to the patients who had to be taken to the polling place to vote on Saturday.

It said that during the referendum campaign it had directed nurses in all government hospitals  not to attend to any meetings, not to handle any  voting document and not to do any work related directly or indirectly to the electoral process. Such directives also include future elections.

It stressed that it did not issue any directives for nurses and midwives not to accompany patients to the polling booths. All the nurses and midwives were ready, if instructed, to accompany their patients where and when ever was the need to do so.

"Even though we are in the year 2011, patients in Mater Dei Hospital, Mt. Carmel Hospital, Boffa Hospital, General Hospital in Gozo and Karen Grech Hospital, who expressed the wish to vote, had to be taken to the polling stations on stretchers with oxygen cylinders and various tubes attached to their body. This is not only humiliating for our patients but also causes great risk, pain, discomfort and stress for the patients who wanted to vote," the Union said.

It said it had written several times to the political parties, urging them to adopt a process where the ballot boxes were taken to  patients in hospitals, but both political parties were insensitive to the patients pain and discomfort. It said it did not recieve  any support from the Health Division or/and the Health Ministry on such an important aspect that effected the patients hospitalised in the Government institutions.

To make matters worse, ballot boxes were available to various stake holders prior the actual election date.

"This shows that the electoral commission adopts procedures for its convenience but then draws a strict arrogant approach to the patients’ needs,"

It called for a meeting with the Electoral Commission  to revise the electoral process and to address the painful situation the patients find themselves in when there is an election. 

"If such an appeal to both political parties is ignored than MUMN has to resort to actions which deem fit."