Medical staff have taken to social media to express their frustration with the sudden closing down of childcare services at Mater Dei Hospital.

Speaking to medical staff who have been affected by this decision, The Malta Independent was informed that Mater Dei personnel called them last Friday to let them know they need to find an “alternative place” for their children to be looked after, as the childcare was to close on the same day.

As some parents were left in the lurch about the situation till this morning, since they received no official information, they still took their children as per usual to the childcare, only to find it closed.

These parents were told that they needed to take their children and find an alternative place to keep them whilst they work.

"We are still under shock," said one parent.

The medical staff contacted by The Malta Independent believe that the closure of the service was a result of lack of funds.

Upon discovering what happened the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses wrote to the Hearth Minister Chris Fearne, asking for an explanation for the decision taken.

In comments to the Times of Malta, MUMN President Paul Pace said that “Members of MUMN who provide a sterling service to our patients are angry and anxious on how such an abrupt decision was taken without any consideration of the effects on their jobs and their children”.

Affected workers were offered a week of teleworking, which Pace described as being stupid since childcare spots take months to be available.

He said that these workers should be offered an indefinite amount of time until they can find a spot for their children and is demanding a guarantee that the union’s members do not suffer a reduction in their take home pay since they would be working from home.

Pace said that such decision to close the centre should have been taken at least six months in advance so that parents can prepare themselves better.

 

Contacted by the same newsroom, a spokesperson for the health ministry said that the decision for the childcare centre’s closure was an administrative one but that the ministry is looking into it.