An elderly woman fell a storey and a half off a balcony at the St Vincent de Paul long-term care residence this morning. 

Police said the incident occurred at around 7:30am, that her health condition is as yet unknown and that investigations are still ongoing. 

Last week, the Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) warned of serious staff shortages at St Vincent de Paul after 83-year-old Karmenu Fino escaped and went missing, triggering a police search.

The MUMN said Fino went missing from a ward that houses 35 people and which, according to an agreement with SVPR’s management, should be manned by a minimum of two nurses.