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Only One Nurse Was At San Vincenz Ward When 83-Year-Old Escaped, Union Warns As It Flags Huge Staff Shortages

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Due to severe staff shortages, only one nurse was assigned to a ward of 35 patients on the day 83-year-old Karmenu Fino escaped and went missing, the Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses has warned.

The MUMN warned that this occurred due to the serious shortages in human resources that are being experienced at the St Vincent de Paul residence.

“MUMN would like to draw the attention of all concerned and the general public that the ward from which this person has been reported missing hosts 35 residents,” it said in a press statement. 

“According to an agreement between MUMN and SVPR Management, such a ward should be manned by a minimum of two nurses but, due to a chronic lack of nurses with regard to which MUMN has been protesting with the authorities for years on end, on the day of the incident only one nurse (from the reliever pool, and not a nurse who habitually works in this ward) was assigned to this ward,” it explained.

“We now fully expect SVPR Management to resort to its favourite ploy to take disciplinary action against the one nurse on duty rather than taking the necessary remedial measures in order to address these endemic problems once and for all.”

“This shortage of nurses has time and time again led to the institution of judicial procedures, both of a criminal as well as of a civil nature, against nurses personally for failures which are management failures.”

“This, in turn, has spurred MUMN to initiate industrial action intended to jolt the authorities that be to take the necessary actions in order to effectively remedy the situation, but, as usual, the government, rather than rolling up its sleeves and doing the job which it is duty-bound to do, resorted to another favourite ploy to take MUMN to court in order to stop it from pursuing its industrial actions.”

“On a final note, MUMN would like to state with satisfaction that an open and honest line of communication is in place between MUMN and the Minister for Active Aging in whom MUMN would like to declare its full trust and utmost respect,” it concluded. 

The MUMN also went as far as blaming the Health Ministry for its inaction in this matter, when nurses have been desperately appealing for attention to be given to this issue.

“One has to note that the nursing crisis in Malta is only due to the lack of action of the Health Ministry since the Ministry of Active Aging has no remit on nursing recruitment or on nursing working conditions,” it pointed out.

The Ministry of Active Ageing has ordered an internal investigation to establish the facts of the case, with the inquiry being led by retired judge Geoffrey Valenzia.

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Sasha is a writer, creator, and podcast host interested in environmental matters, humans, and art. Some know her as Sasha tas-Sigar. Inspired by nature and the changing world. Follow her on Instagram at @saaxhaa and send her your stories at [email protected]

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