MUMN reiterates warning of overcrowding inside Gozo hospital

Nurses’ union president Paul Pace has warned that patients’ health and safety in the Gozo General Hospital was at risk due to overcrowding.

Last month the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) issued an appeal to the Health Division to address the precarious situation in GGH, with several beds being occupied by elderly patients or social patients, leaving no beds for acutely ill or surgical patients.

MUMN issued directives to stop elective surgery in the Female General Ward. The management of GGH did not issue any instructions or directions to the nurses working on the wards where the overcrowding situation has developed.

“The situation from the last press release has gone from bad to worse. The four female patients who were placed in the Male General Ward have actually increased to eight female patients,” Pace said.

He said that the increase of female social cases in the Male General Ward had also led to various cancellations of operations, not only in the female wards but also in the male wards, since beds for surgical and orthopaedic operations are no longer available.

“Gozo General Hospital will soon not be in a position to allow admissions for people suffering with respiratory infections which are very common during winter months if such crisis is allowed to persist,” Pace said.

Pace added that although the situation is desperate, the top official of GGH is hardly ever seen in the wards of Gozo General Hospital to address the transfer of social cases from the male and female general wards.

“Since the Health Division has not addressed the issue of social cases in GGH, MUMN is now appealing to Health Minister Dr. Konrad Mizzi, to act urgently in the interest of the population of Gozo and take such matters into his hands,” Pace said.