MUMN has issued a statement this morning stating that it “wishes to confirm information that has been reported in the media recently, that ECG recordings taken at the Emergency Department in Gozo General Hospital are at times being taken by nurses who have not had the proper training for this type of procedure as ECG recording does not form part of a nurse’s normal duties.”

MUMN said that “it has reported such matters to the Principal Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, that nurses are being offered ‘a bribe’ of extra vacation leave by the Ministry of Gozo as time off in lieu so that these nurses do not abide to the rules of practice regulated by the Council for Nurses and Midwives.”

The MUMN said that “ECG is an important test which can diagnose Heart Attacks and should be taken by ECG technicians who have had a three year period of training leading to a diploma. Unfortunately due to a lack of ECG technicians the Ministry for Gozo is offering one hour as time of in lieu per ECG recording to nurses to the detriment of safe practice for Gozitan patients. Patients who need ECG recording in a medical and surgical emergency have a right that such an important test be taken by the correct competent professionals. It is a pity that Gozo citizens are being treated as third class citizens at Gozo General Hospital since in Mater Dei Hospital all ECGs are taken by ECG competent technicians.”

The statement concluded by saying that “although MUMN have reported such bad practices to the Principal Permanent Secretary and that MUMN has produced enough evidence to support the fact that time off in lieu is being given as a reward for this misconduct, no action has been taken to stop such bad practices.”

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