Lack of resources leading to Mt Carmel problems - MUMN

In a hardly worded statement, the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) said that the government's lack of commitment to invest at Mt. Carmel Hospital was the root of all problems at the institution.

Deriding the health minister for claiming that the government was planning to build a new hospital while saying that it had no funds to refurbish the aging hospital in Attard, the union said it would expose the shortcomings in the institution.

Yesterday, the health ministry reported allegations by nurses' union MUMN that minors in Mount Carmel hospital are being exposed to abuse by adults, to the Commissioner for Mental Health.

The ministry said in a statement that the Commissioner will be investigating the allegations and make Mt Carmel management take the necessary and appropriate steps so as to safeguard minors' health and safety.

Nurses' union boss Paul Pace alleged that Mount Carmel Hospital is the site of sexual and physical abuse, because children are being placed with adults in some wards and being exposed to sexual abuse "and even to physical violence." 

The situation in the wards in Mt. Carmel Hospital cannot remain hidden from the media and the general public, the union said.

"Young children at the age 16 years or less are being placed with adults in certain wards in Mt. Carmel Hospital ...exposed to sexual abuse and even to physical violence," the union reiterated.

"What angers MUMN, is seeing the current health minister juggling and more concerned with patients profiling exercise, proposing extravagant projects such as the "planning" of building new mental hospital but then is totally in denial of the current situation in Mt. Carmel where drug addicts, children and patients suffering  from various mental diseases are literally being nursed all together. Not to mention the huge shortage of beds for drugs addicts in Mt. Carmel Hospital," it added.

MUMN called on health minister Godfrey Farrugia to follow the footsteps of his colleague, home affairs minister Manuel Mallia "and start refurbishing and added new wings in Mt. Carmel Hospital."

The union pointed out that the development of new wings have been halted under the present administration to the detriment of the nurses and the patients.

"So on one note the health minister has no money for refurbishment of Mt. Carmel Hospital then on the other hand intends to built a new hospital," MUMN said.

MUMN said it would issue regular press releases when nurses and patients "are being put at peril due to lack of political commitment. It is a great pity that the health minister did not set up office in Mt. Carmel Hospital as he had done in Mater Dei Hospital."