The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has written to the parliamentary secretary for the elderly, Helen D’Amato, to complain that the health authorities had not added enough nurses and supporting staff at St Vincent de Paul home after the expansion of the residence.

In a statement, the union said it had been assured that when the number of residents at the home increased, this would lead to a complementary increase in the number of nurses. But the number of nurses had not increased sufficiently, the union said.

In the circumstances, the nurses could not offer the level of attention that the residents deserved because they were overloaded with work. Nurses were frustrated that they could not provide their services as they should, which was creating an ethical and professional dilemma, the union said.

The union has called for a meeting with Mrs D’Amato to find a solution to the prevailing problem. Until such a meeting is held, the union has called upon the health authorities not to transfer any more residents to the home.