Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) President Paul Pace informed The Malta Independent about industrial action being taken by the nurses working at all health centres due to relaxation of directives from Primary Health Care.

Pace said that on the 26 July, "a memo was sent which states that the colour coding system for filtering patients based on Covid-19 symptoms and other illnesses or injuries, is to be removed." The filtering system was there in order to offer some protection for the nurses and doctors working, Pace said. "Although this system does not fully protect them, at least there was some level of protection."

Pace said that now the health centres have become a "free for all" playground with no regulations in place. "If we were in a position where, for the last couple of months we had little to no Covid-19 positive patients, this would be a different story."

The MUMN also issued a statement, further explaining the situation. It read that that it, as well as its "members working in Primary Health care have been informed that all triage which was being done by the doctors is to be stopped as from tomorrow. This is not acceptable to all the nurses and midwives nor to the MUMN, since it is jeopardizing the health and safety of all the nurses and midwives working in the treatment room and in various clinic in all Health Centres. It is not acceptable that the proposed triage is to be done inside the Health Centre by the nursing aids and by clerks at the reception of the private contractor. Also, Primary Health Care did not consult with MUMN on such changes."

The action being taken includes the nurses not accepting patients.

Pace said that the industrial action would remain in place until the situation is remedied from Primary Health Care.