MUMN Declares Industrial Dispute Over Unsafe Staffing At Wonderland Ward
The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has officially declared an industrial dispute over the ongoing staffing crisis at Wonderland Ward in Mater Dei Hospital, citing serious concerns about the safety of children being treated there.
For months, MUMN has been warning that the ward’s current setup is unsafe. Despite Wonderland having six more critical care beds than Disneyland Ward, yet the same number of nurses, hospital management has repeatedly refused to assign extra staff.
In some cases, nurses without paediatric experience have been pulled in from the relief pool, creating what MUMN describes as “chaotic patchwork practices” that put already stretched nurses under extreme pressure.
MUMN says this isn’t just bad for staff, it’s bad for patients. “Staffing a specialised paediatric ward with too few trained nurses is leading to burnout among those who are giving everything to maintain care standards,” a spokesperson said.
The union also slammed management for ignoring repeated requests to increase staffing. “Instead of supporting the nurses who care for highly critical patients, Nursing Management has worked from their offices while Wonderland nurses face impossible conditions,” the statement read.
There have even been occasions when no appropriately trained nurses were available, creating serious risks for children in the ward. MUMN has called several meetings on the issue, but says management has continually refused to act.
With no other options left, MUMN will be issuing directives on Wednesday 3rd December, aimed at protecting both the children and the nurses from potential legal risks arising from the unsafe staffing situation. The union stressed that these directives will not affect the care of children in Wonderland.
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