Nurses union questions motive behind GWU directive

The General Workers Union (GWU) has ordered ambulance drivers not to carry out any duties if they are not accompanied by a competent nurse.

But nurses’ union MUMN (Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses) questioned their motive, saying that if the GWU had an issue to settle with the government they should not involve the nurses.

Speaking to MaltaToday, MUMN’s president Paul Pace clarified that nurses always accompany ambulance drivers in cases of emergency, but remarked that it was futile for nurses to accompany drivers when they are simply transporting a patient from one place to another.

“Nurses are always present in critical cases. But there’s no need for nurses to be present when ambulances go on ‘taxi trips’ to transport patients. We prefer to use human resources in an efficient way or else risk shortages of nurses when critical cases crop up,” Pace said.

MaltaToday is informed that Mater Dei’s management allocated extra nurses to counter the union’s directive, but Pace downplayed the move, saying that the allocation of two nurses will not have a significant impact on the situation.