Claims that private nurse firm has gone bust denied but talks with government underway

Neil Camilleri Sunday, 20 September 2015, 10:30 Last update: about 12 years ago

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has denied claims that the private nurse association MMDNA has gone bankrupt and will cease operations but confirmed that talks are underway with the government over the way in which the association is paid for its nursing services.

Sources said yesterday that MMDNA employees were told during a meeting that the company would have to close down after 75 years of service because the government had fallen behind on payments. MMDNA, which employs around 70 people, provides community nursing and care services on contract from the government. They also claimed that another company had already been lined up to replace MMDNA.

One of the sources said: “I work with MMDNA and I was shocked yesterday when they told us during the meeting that the government has been registering losses for the past two years, which means that my job is at risk.”

The meeting was attended by the MUMN, which represents the nurses but the General Workers’ Union, which represents the care workers, did not show up, this paper was told.

When contacted yesterday, MUMN Secretary General Colin Galea said it was not true that MMDNA had discussed bankruptcy and closing down with its employees. The association, he said, has raised concerns about the difficulties it is facing in an ever-changing scenario. There is also an issue about payments. Mr Pace said the contract between the MMDNA and the government stipulated how and when the summary of the work performed and the verification exercises were carried out and when the association would be paid for its services. The association was seeking to improve these terms.

The MUMN Secretary General said it was true that the MMDNA claimed that the government has fallen behind on payments but the government is claiming otherwise. Employees who attended the meeting did in fact ask about the association’s financial situation but bankruptcy claims were denied.

Mr Galea said a meeting between the MMDNA and the community care department within the Social Solidarity Ministry was scheduled for yesterday but was postponed until Tuesday. He hoped that a solution would be found during that meeting.

A member of the MMDNA told this newspaper that Mr Galea’s version was the correct one but conceded that the association has been facing financial difficulties for quite some time.