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MUMN Calls For Immediate Hiring Of 200 Foreign Nurses As ITU Patients Rise

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The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has warned that Malta may be heading towards a total lockdown as COVID-19 cases in the Intensive Treatment Unit in Mater Dei Hospital have risen from six to 15 amid a spike of cases.

In light of this, and a lack of staff to properly handle more rises, the union has called for the immediate hiring of 200 third country national nurses to compensate.

“MUMN is alarmed and seriously preoccupied that the patients in ITU are increasing exponentially. This morning, 15 COVID-positive cases are in the intensive care unit compared to last week where there were only six covid patients,” MUMN President Paul Pace said.

Though staff has been increased in the ITU, with nurses from the relieving pool being assigned there, MUMN were concerned that this would mean that there are not enough nurses to open new areas is admission cases continued to increase, especially as winter approaches.

As such, MUMN called for 200 nurses to be brought in from abroad in in light of previous agreements.

With all the boosting that 200 nurses are to be employed soon by the Health Minister, only five nurses have been employed in MDH,” Pace said.

“This is not the time of theatrical tactics since this is literally a life and death situation. The Health Minister is to keep his word and deliver the promised 200 nurses much needed in Mater Dei. Shouting in parliament is not an option any more since it is the results which count,” he continued.

“MUMN expects that such needed 200 nurses from Third Country Nationals are to be employed immediately since Mater Dei nurses are already working under high stressful conditions due to shortage of staff,” he said.

He also called on the general public to stop hosting parties at their homes or other areas as it may leading to them overwhelming the hospital, leading to a total lockdown.

“Nobody wants a lockdown including the nurses and all healthcare workers, but if the hospital is overwhelmed with patients, then all freedom and entertainment would be lost,” they said.

Do you think Malta should prepare to bring nurses in from abroad?

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Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

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