After the meeting, it seems that vacancies will be available for the 65 nurses who had applied to work in public hospitals.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Mr Zammit explained that another meeting is to be held on Monday to finalise agreement on these vacancies and provide jobs for the new nursing graduates.

At Monday’s meeting, new arrangements should also be made for nurses to work in medical wards during the day to deal with the

frequent over-crowding, he said. These nurses will be part of the relieving pool promised to the union to lift the burden of nurses working in these over-crowded wards.

Nurses went on a two-hour strike last Saturday in protest against the situation in the under-staffed wards. The employment of these 65 new graduates, who are qualified and licensed nurses, should help to improve the situation.

“The union’s directives have been suspended since our demands are being met and our voice is being heard,” said Mr Zammit.

Instead of the protest which was to have been held outside Castille today, the MUMN is to hold a meeting with the graduates involved, to explain the outcome of the meeting with the minister.

The meeting will take place at the union’s offices at St Luke’s Hospital.