Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne highlighted the need for more nurses given the expanding healthcare services offered in Malta while visiting MCAST Nursing students.

Currently, he said, there are 33 nursing students in the new Northumbria University BA in Nursing Studies course which launched this year, and MCAST lecturers are job-shadowing and co-lecturing together with Northumbria University staff.

Fearne said that there are still 300 nurses needed in Malta and Gozo, due to the expanding services, new clinics opening, and the increased workload to reduce waiting lists. He said that courses like this will help fill these jobs.

He stressed that the health sector is expanding, and that most students who graduate in nursing have a guaranteed job because of the nursing shortage.

MUMN President Maria Cutajar said that together with the ministry, VGH and MCAST, she is happy that more students are going into nursing. She said that through the course, students get a chance to practice their skills before heading into clinical work.

President of the MCAST Board of Governors Silvio De Bono said that the course complements what already exists, and stressed that it is not competing with the University of Malta course.

He also thanked Vitals Global Healthcare for their cooperation with expenses.

The new Vitals Global Healthcare CEO Elaine Bridge was also present.