Nurses union denounces court action over cardiology suite leave dispute

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has condemned the Health Ministry’s decision to pursue court proceedings against Cath Suite nurses at Mater Dei Hospital over industrial directives issued during the festive period.

The case before the Court concerns union directives from December 2025, instructing nurses to cease elective procedures at the Cath Lab in Cardiology.

The ministry filed an injunction on 3 December, upheld on 17 December. The union withdrew directives on 12 December but reserved the right to reissue them if members' rights are breached. The ministry now seeks a ruling that MUMN cannot halt Cath Lab services.

"This episode makes the message painfully clear: when consultants cancel elective lists to take leave, it is approved, but when nurses stand up for their leave, they are dragged to court," MUMN said in a statement on Wednesday.

The dispute concerns approvals for nurses' leave in the Cath Suite. The ministry claims MUMN tried to control approvals for charge nurses. The union states that the elective lists in both the Cath Suite and the Main Operating Theatre were cancelled during the holidays due to doctors' vacations, with no court action taken.

The union stated Dr Robert Xuereb, a witness earning €122,000 annually, would argue that elective list cancellations are impossible. It said records show that cancellations occurred during his tenure due to doctors’ leave.

They pointed to Gozo General Hospital, where the minister knows doctors won't escort critically ill patients to Mater Dei, but no legal action was taken. They also compared the SVP Fino case, in which nurses faced court action, but doctors did not.

Beyond the court case, MUMN raised concerns about Mater Dei’s conditions, noting more patients in corridors and the closure of the Early Pregnancy Unit, which was replaced by a mixed ward. The union also reported that the theatre recovery and endoscopy units have housed acute patients for months, risking patient safety.

MUMN said the ministry failed to inform the union that the dispute was resolved two days before the directives took effect, which heightened tensions and breached industrial relations practice.

The union clarified it wasn't criticising doctors or their leave but pointed out an unequal system that targets nurses while excusing others. It vowed to defend its members and called for uniform standards across healthcare.