The Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has said that the Health Ministry is refusing to transfer Gozitan nurses working in Malta to work at Gozo General Hospital, which is forcing Steward Health Care to employ third-country nationals instead.

The MUMN that there is a shortage of nurses in Gozo, which is damaging the quality of health services, especially emergency services.

Steward Health Care has demanded that at least five nurses are transferred from Malta to Gozo to cater for the shortage of nurses.

If the Health Ministry continues to refuse to transfer Gozitan nurses to the Gozitan Hospital, then Steward Health Care will be forced to employ third-country nationals to meet the demand.

The MUMN said that the refusal to transfer Gozitan nurses to work in Gozo breaches an agreement the MUMN has with the Health Ministry where Gozitan nurses have the right to be transferred to Gozo General Hospital.

“It is crystal clear that the Labour Government is not prioritising the needs of the Gozitan people, the basic right to work in Gozo,” MUMN said.

The MUMN called all of the Labour Party’s promises about prioritising Gozitans working in Gozo, “a gimmick on false pretences”.

If the third-country nationals are employed at Gozo General Hospital, then the MUMN said that it will have to take action as it deems fit in the interest of the Gozitan nurses working in Malta.

“The nurses working in Gozo and the population working in Gozo should be treated with respect and it is a great pity that a basic right of the Gozitians to work in Gozo has to be defended by the union,” MUMN said.