Nurse!

I have just seen a report on TVM on a press conference held by the Union representing nurses. I must admit that the quoted figures are shocking. It is unacceptable in today's age that our hospitals are not served with enough nurses. It is all the more unacceptable when in the past year alone the Government revenue last year increased by €146.1 million! It is unacceptable to have this situation when we have thrown so much money at Mater Dei Hospital to make it state of the art. Patient care has to start with the nurses. To have such a lack of nurses (at least 200 at Mater Dei) is nothing but sheer mismanagement and incompetence on the individuals in the Government who handled the Mater Dei business over the past years.

We are paying for this incompetence. It is true that technologically speaking the hospital is almost avant garde BUT not to have enough nurses is more than just unacceptable. Where were the powers that be ten years ago when the whole thing was being planned. Or for that matter where were they two years ago. I find it hard to believe that there is effectively no plan as to how to increase the number of nurses at Hospital. Again mismanagement of our financial and human resources.

Act now and act decisively please - that is what is expected of you Mr. Government!

Karl

I had only known Karl from the media then i got to know him better when, as a candidate for the MLP, we met on those required official occasions. We immediatly found we have a common bond - the love for Liverpool FC. Beyond that i will never forget the encouragement he gave me and the deep sense of doing something right. Of doing something for the common good. He was in politics for all the right reasons and for this he will always be an inspiration to me and, I am sure, countless others.

Karl, in a completely unoriginal way I can only tell you - you will never walk alone !