Updated | Nurses’ union and government reach agreement, industrial action withdrawn

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has withdrawn its directives for industrial action, after it reached agreement with the government on the most important issues which were under dispute.

Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Twitter today that an agreement between the nurses’ union and the government “on core issues” had been reached. He had yesterday said the union would be suspending its industrial action.

Nurses around Malta commenced industrial action earlier this week, after the union failed to reach an agreement with the government over various issues related to a new sectoral agreement.

The nurses were advised to follow the directions issued by their union last week, which include measures related to answering patients’ calls, washing patients, and transferring patients for pre-scheduled non-emergency medical procedures.

The directions did not apply to mothers waiting for a caesarean section, who will be assisted by the nurses as usual.

The industrial action comes at a time when a widespread shortage of nurses, across the main government hospitals in Malta - including Mater Dei, San Vincenz, and Mount Carmel - is being reported.