![Nurses in protest to show solidarity over Mt Carmel self-harm case](https://maltadaily.mt/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/mumnweb.jpg)
A mass of members from the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses (MUMN) joined forces to show solidarity with nurse Joseph Pace, as he faces charges in connection with a patient who self-harmed under his watch.
Pace is being prosecuted by the police in his role as a manager at the hospital and is due to be charged in court with criminal misconduct. The incident dates back to 2017, and involves a patient who self-harmed despite supposedly being under constant self-watch.
The press conference outside Mount Carmel Hospital, MUMN President Paul Pace called Joseph Pace a hero who is loved by all the staff, patients and relatives.
Staff shortages prevented the management from providing Level 1 supervision on the patient, with Paul Pace saying that Pace was interrogated by police. Although the union asked Health Minister Chris Fearne to intervene, the case was not dropped.
Paul Pace lamented how nurses are constantly being threatened with court. ‘This is the third nurse to be sent to court over constant watches, something which requires one-to-one nursing 24 hours a day. However, nurses are out of stock here and instead we end up taking them to court. What blame do nurses have?’
Joseph Pace explained how this happened regularly and that the staff did everything possible to save the life of the patient. He said that he was possibly facing thousands in fines and up to nine years in prison.’
Paul Pace said that the authorities can send all the nurses supporting Joseph Pace to prison because they don’t mind. ‘We will go to prison with this guy.’ Calling the situation at the mental health institution a farce, he said that a new one has been promised for years. Mount Carmel is not adequate, he said, explaining how wards are being constantly closed down and that it is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
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Photo Source: MaltaToday