Some 2,000 nurses and midwives are to receive €1.7 million during in their next pay due to a mistake that was made back in 2007.

As a minimum, nurses will be receiving €475 and a maximum of €875, depending on the hours worked in the six months preceding the 2007 mistaken payment.

The mistake stems from a change in the way nurses were paid. Between 1998 and 2007, nurses were paid in arrears. A decision was taken to change this and in 2007, when nurses should have been paid for the six months in arrears and six months up front, they were only paid the upfront salary and completely missed out on the nursing premium in arrears.

This was announced this morning by Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne, after signing an agreement with the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses. Cheques will also be given to nurses who no longer work with the Health Department but did so at the time.

Fearne thanked the Finance Ministry the Health Department and the government Internal Audit team.

He also spoke of how over the past four years, some 600 nurses have been added to the staff, helping to improve working conditions for all nurses and thus helping to provide a better service.