Legal Action Sparks Union Outcry
The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) has publicly accused Health Minister Jo-Etienne Abela of 'hypocrisy, double standards, and animosity' following legal action initiated by the Ministry for Health against the union on New Year's Eve. The MUMN stated it was summoned to court for defending the vacation leave rights of nurses working in the Cardiac Catheterisation Suite (Cath Lab) at Mater Dei Hospital.
According to the union, the Ministry, represented by three lawyers, argued in court that cancelling elective cardiac procedures would create a 'manifest risk to patient lives, potentially leading to acute heart attacks, heart failure, serious arrhythmias, strokes and premature death'.
Allegations of Selective Patient Safety Concerns
The MUMN's accusation of 'double standards' stems from its claim that while legal action was pursued against nurses for seeking leave, at least five elective cardiac lists were suspended between December 24 and January 4 to allow doctors to take leave during the festive season. The union questioned why similar legal action was not taken against consultants for these suspensions, given the Ministry's warnings about jeopardizing patient lives.
The union emphasized that 'Patient safety cannot be used as a weapon against nurses while being conveniently ignored when doctors take leave. That is a clear double standard'. The dispute originated from a management decision three months prior to restrict annual leave for the 18-nurse Cath Suite unit, which MUMN argues breaches Public Service Management Code regulations.
Minister and Hospital Directorate Respond
In response to the MUMN's allegations, Health Minister Jo-Etienne Abela rejected claims that he personally took Cath Lab nurses to court on New Year's Eve. He clarified that the legal action was solely aimed at safeguarding patient safety and not at targeting nurses. Minister Abela stated he was not present at the law courts on New Year's Eve and that the Ministry's legal team's argument focused on MUMN's directive to halt cardiac operations being 'illegal and disproportionate' because the union had other available avenues. He added that the court upheld this argument.
The Medical Directorate at Mater Dei Hospital also issued a statement, denying allegations that elective cardiac procedures were suspended over the festive season to accommodate medical staff leave. The Directorate insisted that interventional cardiology services operated continuously and, in fact, recorded an increase in elective interventions compared to the same period last year.
Ongoing Industrial Dispute
This latest development is part of an ongoing industrial dispute between the MUMN and the Health Ministry. Earlier in December 2025, the Ministry had initiated formal legal proceedings against the MUMN, seeking a court declaration that industrial action targeting elective procedures in the Cath Lab was disproportionate, excessive, and illegal. A court upheld a prohibitory injunction on December 17, 2025, ruling that the union's directives posed a serious risk to patient safety.
5 Comments
Muchacha
Mater Dei said procedures increased. MUMN's claims sound like union propaganda.
Fuerza
The Minister is right; MUMN's directives were disproportionate. There are other ways.
Manolo Noriega
Accusations of 'double standards' are serious and warrant investigation, but the hospital's denial of suspended services complicates MUMN's narrative. Transparency from all parties is crucial here.
Ongania
It's concerning if patient safety is indeed selectively applied, but the Minister's point about disproportionate action against critical services also holds weight. A resolution protecting both staff welfare and patient outcomes is essential.
Manolo Noriega
Double standards at its finest. Nurses are overworked and underappreciated.