The nursing union (MUMN) has called on Health Minister Konrad Mizzi to investigate the ‘hijacking of a recently introduced service’ by certain consultants leading to patients’ hardship under the false pretext it is being done for the safety of patients.

The ‘hijacked’ service the MUMN speaks about is the recently introduced service whereby Gozitan cancer-stricken patients can now be treated in Gozo instead of being burdened to cross over to Malta for such treatment and endure a journey which may cause them hardship.

In a statement, the MUMN said: “Successive governments had invested heavily in the development of the chemotherapy centre at Gozo General Hospital (GGH). In fact GGH possesses a state of the art facility for chemotherapy administration which was inaugurated last year by the previous Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia.

“Apart from the fact that GGH posses modern facilities for the administration of chemotherapy, there are also trained medical doctors and specialised nurses in chemotherapy administration. In most cases the nurses administer such treatment while doctors become involved in remote cases where complications might occur.

“Yet cancer-stricken Gozitan patients are still being requested by certain oncology consultants to travel to Boffa Hospital at Floriana, even though such travelling is literally a nightmare for such weak vulnerable patients.

“Some of these patients have to even resort to booking hotel rooms in Malta after they undergo chemotherapy sessions, besides the fact that they must cross over to Malta and back in rough weather conditions," the MUMN said.

While the MUMN said that it acknowledges the fact that certain chemotherapy sessions still have to be conducted at Boffa Hospital due to the short span of time which certain chemotherapy drugs can have on preparation, the vast majority of chemotherapy drugs can be given by the trained nurses at GGH.

MUMN is aware that certain consultants are purposely not allowing their patients to be treated in Gozo, knowing well that Gozo Hospital can give such treatment. This scaremongering and hard headedness of certain consultants is causing great patient suffering who have to catch the ferry in rough winds after such drastic treatment has been administered, the union said.