A warrant of prohibitory injunction has been filed by Steward Health Care Malta in relation to the industrial action originally planned by the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) which was due to come into effect today.

Steward, in a statement said that the warrant was provisionally accepted by the court, with a hearing scheduled for later this month.

It went on to say that the dispute raised by MUMN relates to the recruitment of foreign nurses in the absence of the possibility of release of Gozitan nurses working in Malta to the Gozo General Hospital.

Steward stressed that “this was carried out with full knowledge of the MUMN and as an interim measure to support GGH nurses on the ground until such a time as the Gozo nurses can be released from Malta to work in Gozo.”

The company explained that “we have also made it clear that these foreign nurses in no way interfere with the transfer of Gozo nurses working in Malta to Gozo General Hospital.”

The MUMN, on Friday registered an industrial dispute in relation to the above, by virtue of which it has instructed nurses to revert to their pre-Covid duties.

“The industrial action would have several worrying implications” Steward said, “such as elderly patients not being care for by nurses, emergency care being suspended in Gozo, and treatment of Covid-positive as well as patients awaiting Covid results being completely stopped.”

“Steward strongly believes that this action is not in good faith,” the company said. “Whilst the right to industrial action is a constitutionally protected right that Steward will always respect, this must not come at the expense of patients and the Gozitan public generally.”

The company concluded by saying that, “Steward’s primary duty remains the health of the Maltese and Gozitan public, and while we look forward to continuing talks with MUMN Steward shall do its utmost to safeguard patients’ right to safe care.”

Photo by Anthony Zammit

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