The nurses will suspend widespread industrial action during a meeting with the government planned for Saturday morning.

The directives will in the meantime remain in place and the Malta Union of Midwives will re-assess the situation following the meeting, general secretary Colin Galea told Times of Malta.

Earlier, Health Minister Chris Fearne tweeted: "MUMN to suspend industrial actions following agreement to meet with Health Ministry officials over the weekend." No further details have been given.

The industrial action kicked off on Thursday, following a breakdown in discussions over a new sectoral agreement for nurses and midwives.

Among others, nurses have been instructed not to participate in washing patients, except in cases when they cannot be bed-bathed by support staff. They will not transfer patients for elective operations to any theatres, endoscopy rooms or suites, except for mothers scheduled for a caesarean section.

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