Two Labour MPs yesterday said that the dignity of elderly people at St Vincent De Paul was under threat and that their situation was deteriorating.

In a joint statement, Labour spokesperson for Social Solidarity Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca and Labour spokesperson for the elderly Silvio Parnis said that the Nationalist government has been ignoring the requests made by the nursing aides for better working conditions for the past 11 years and has ignored the ultimatum issued last March.

As a result, they said, the trade unions had to take industrial action.

Furthermore, they added, in certain wards the male residents have not been helped to get out of their beds for three days while female residents were being washed by male nurses – and this was a serious threat to their dignity.