Resolve it, and resolve it now
The dispute between the government, more specifically the Ministry for Active Aging, and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses has dragged on for too long now.
It has been nearly six months that the two sides clashed over an inquiry report that followed the disappearance of a resident at the St Vincent de Paul home for the elderly, and his subsequent death. The inquiry had found that his disappearance had been the result of shortcomings in the standard care provided by employees, and not a failure of the system.
A nurse had been suspended after the incident, a measure that was not accepted by the union, which had in turn issued directives for nurses not to accept new residents at the home. There followed legal proceedings instituted by the ministry, which saw a court ruling to freeze the union’s directive. This meant that, as from December – four months after the directive had first been issued – the government was free to transfer patients from Mater Dei Hospital for long-term care at the SVPR.
It is clear that the minister responsible, Jo Etienne Abela, and MUMN chief, Paul Pace, do not see eye to eye. It is a clash of personalities that seems to have no end in sight, with the latest barb coming from Pace’s side.
The MUMN head said that he would like to see Miriam Dalli as the next health minister, if and when Chris Fearne moves on. Fearne is being touted as the person Prime Minister Robert Abela has in mind to send to Brussels as Malta’s representative on the European Commission, so as to replace Helena Dalli when her term expires next year. Pace has strongly implied that he would not like to see Jo Etienne Abela as health minister.
The directives that had been issued by the union last August meant that, for quite a while, the St Vincent de Paul home did not accept new residents. This meant that there was overcrowding at Mater Dei Hospital and empty beds at SVPR. It was only after a court ruling that the directive is no longer in place.
But this does not mean that the clash between the ministry and the union is over. Far from it.
The worst part of this whole situation is that, when something like this happens, it is the patients who suffer the most. And this is why the two sides have to come together to find the way forward.
Minister Jo Etienne Abela has said that the government’s door is open for discussions. He disagreed that the government is being stubborn on the matter, insisting that the priority is the care that should be provided to the elderly people.
We are sure that the MUMN would also like to see the issue resolved. Such situations do not make the nurses’ job any easier and, while understanding that the union has a duty towards its members, it should not allow the clash to protract any further.
If the two sides really are willing to bring this uneasy situation to an end, they will find a way to do it.
The issue must be resolved, and it must be resolved now.