At no point were elective cardiac catheterisation procedures cancelled to facilitate doctors taking leave, the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) said in a statement.

Its statement comes in reaction to a statement that had been issued by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN).

The MUMN had had condemned what it described as "hypocrisy, double standards and a lack of respect" towards nurses working in the Cath Lab at Mater Dei Hospital, after the union said it was taken to court for safeguarding nurses' vacation leave rights. In its statement, the MUMN had charged that doctors are permitted to cancel Cath Suite lists to take their vacation leave, without patient safety being raised as a concern or used as a justification to restrict their rights.

In a statement on Wednesday, the MAM said that public confidence in the medical profession is built on facts, professionalism, and trust.

"Recent articles on local media regarding activity in Malta's cardiac catheterisation services may have inadvertently caused concern among patients and their families."

The MAM categorically said that "at no point were elective cardiac catheterisation procedures cancelled to facilitate doctors taking leave."

"On the contrary, more elective procedures were performed during this Christmas period than during the same period in previous years. This reflects careful planning, consultant-led clinical governance, and the sustained commitment of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cath-lab nurses and clinic measurement physiologists."

Emergency and urgent cardiac procedures continued without interruption throughout the festive period, exactly as they do throughout the year, the MAM added.

"Patients requiring immediate or time-sensitive intervention received prompt, safe, and high-quality care at all times, with no reduction in standards or availability."

The MAM provided figures from the Cardiology Department during the Christmas period (22nd December to 1st January). It said that in 2024, 67 emergency and urgent procedures were performed, together with 16 elective procedures, and in 2025, 58 emergency and urgent procedures were performed, together with 29 elective procedures.

"Every patient requiring emergency or urgent intervention received timely, appropriate care in both years. What is particularly important to note is that elective procedures - which by definition are scheduled from outpatients - actually increased significantly in 2025 compared to the previous year."

Elective cardiac work is organised in a clinically led and patient-centred manner, the MAM said. "It is well recognised that on specific days such as Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, some patients choose to defer elective procedures for personal or family reasons. Any minor variation in elective activity on those days reflects patient preference, not a withdrawal of medical services."

Cardiac catheterisation laboratories operate within a complex healthcare system that depends on multidisciplinary teamwork, forward planning, and clear lines of responsibility., the MAM went on to add. "While collaboration across professional groups is essential, consultant cardiologists retain ultimate responsibility for clinical decisions and patient outcomes. This responsibility is exercised with patient safety, continuity of care, and clinical appropriateness as the overriding priorities."

"The public can be confident that cardiac care in Malta remains safe, robust, and centred on patients' needs. The focus of the Medical Profession, including cardiology services, is that of delivering the highest possible standard of care to those who depend on us.

The Medical Directorate at Mater Dei Hospital has also previously rejected allegations that elective cardiac procedures were suspended over the festive season to accommodate medical staff leave, insisting that interventional cardiology services operated continuously.