Updated: Nurses’ union demands rules for the control of inductions at Mater Dei

Updated with reaction by Malta College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists 10:37am

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has once again warned that overcrowding at the maternity department at Mater Dei hospital could jeopardize mother and baby, in a renewed appeal to the health authorities to tackle the lack of bed space inside the general hospital.

“Whilst MUMN recognises some new tentative measures taken by the health division to regulate and reduce the number of inductions, MUMN feels that such measures will not leave the desired results, to the interest of the mothers and their babies,” secretary-general Paul Pace said.

Last week Pace said the union was prepared to issue industrial directives after complaining that lack of bed space was pushing doctors into inducing labour unnecessarily to free up beds.

Pace said countries like the UK had guidelines and protocols to regulate inductions. “Although Malta’s health division had also initiated a register for elective inductions to be booked and planned beforehand and avoid overcrowding, Maltese consultants, unlike their UK counterparts, did not collaborate with the health division to start booking beforehand the inductions through this register.

“In fact the register remained empty. Such lack of collaboration is causing great harm both to the mothers and to the midwives since mothers are being continuously transferred to wards not designed to take in mother and child as to be able to admit new mothers in the main delivery suite,” Pace said.

The MUMN is insisting with the health division to issue protocols and guidelines such as the NHS‘s protocol, to all doctors, regulating the inductions in Mater Dei hospitals.

The union said it was appealing to all organisations that have the interest and the well being of the mother and baby for their support.  “MUMN is doing its utmost to avoid any industrial actions which can arise if such a situation in Mater Dei Hospital is not addressed by the health division. MUMN is conceding a time frame of two weeks so as the health department will come up with the necessary protocols and a proper registration system.”

The Malta College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists has denied allegations by the nurses union of ‘unnecessary’ labour induction.

“Clinical practice regarding confinements at Mater Dei does not in any way generate any revenue for consultants,” Prof. Mark Brincat said.

Critics claim induced Caesarean sections lead to higher fees for private hospitals that can be claimed against private health insurance firms.

“Certain statements that have appeared in the media accusing the consultants of putting financial gain before the interests of their patients are unfounded and firmly and categorically denied.

“The College would like to express its solidarity with the specialists in view of the abuse they have had to sustain. It is noteworthy that the well-being of the mother and their babies has steadily improved and ranks as one of the best in Europe.”

Brincat said that the MUMN was conducting a media campaign that had not been initiated by patients. “If a patient satisfaction survey was to be carried out the results would show that the service offered at Mater Dei is second to none.”