The nurses’ union said it will be writing to the Health Minister to start a “serious discussion” on staff shortages after a court threw out an injunction filed by the health authorities.

Mr Justice Spiteri Bailey ruled on Monday that industrial action that had been ordered by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) will not endanger the lives of patients and can continue. 

The union had argued in court that its directives were aimed at addressing an ongoing nurse shortage which was draining its members and affecting the quality of service and the lives of patients.

The court ruled that the MUMN’s actions are not illegal and that the applicant does not have any right for the injunction [to stop the industrial action].

The judge, acknowledging that any form of strike will affect patients in some way, told the Health Ministry that it is responsible to ensure that this issue is resolved as soon as possible.

The MUMN had instructed nurses to take a two-ghour break each day at operating theatres, n ot to leave the wards to accompany patients unless there was a ratio of one nurse to five patients and to not admit patients to particular wards and at the government’s home for the elderly.

The union says there is a staff shortage at most state facilities.

The court also ruled that the MUMN has the right to request discussions on pensions and preferential tax rates on overtime. Such conditions, the court noted, had been offered to workers in other sectors.

In a statement, the MUMN said it was “greatly satisfied” by the court’s decision.

Its council has decided to “celebrate this important day by instructing all the nurses and midwives to start wearing morning colourful tops from tomorrow instead of the black ones until further notice.”

The union said it will also be abiding by the judge’s request and will be writing to the Health Ministry and the Ministry for Active Ageing “to meet and start seriously addressing the staff shortage to find solutions and way forward.”