MUMN condemns nurses situation in Gozo

In the last months, a considerable amount of nurses complained with MUMN that they are facing several difficulties in order to be able to take their vacation leave. “This is happening on a regular basis and we cannot tolerate this situation anymore,” the MUMN said in its statement.

The MUMN said that whilst the Finance Minister has allocated a considerable amount of money for the overtime of hospitals in Malta, when it came to the hospital in Gozo the Minister was using “a fist of iron”: “Gozitan nurses are being denied their right to vacation leave,” the Union said.

The union also pointed out that the hospital in Gozo is understaffed. “The hospital does not have a  relieving pool to substitute those nurses who would be out on leave,” it said, whilst acknowledging that the country has a shortage of nurses.

“However we expect authorities not to be stingy with the nurses who are carrying out their duties as well as the duties of those who are missing,” it stressed. “The wages which are being saved should be passed on to the hospital management so that the vacation leave problem could be solved.”

The MUMN stressed that it is illogical having Gozitan nurses working overtime in Maltese hospitals, when the General Hospital in Gozo is already understaffed.