The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses today appealed to the Finance Ministry to approve funds with which new nurses can be employed.

In a statement, the MUMN said that it had been informed by the Health Department that no funds had as yet been approved to recruit new staff, including nurses who have just qualified from University or others who wanted to return to employment.

The MUMN said it cannot understand why the government is announcing health-related projects and yet is holding back from employing more staff.

The union said there is a shortage of nurses and this problem will become worse when the St Luke’s and Gozo General Hospital projects come to be.

It is unacceptable that such a situation persists, the MUMN said, calling upon the Prime Minister to intervene on the matter

In reply, the Health Ministry said the government is going to employ more nurses as originally planned and it committed to attracting more people to the profession.