Dear Member,

This email was issued on 4^th November 2022. As a substantial number of nurses and midwives are requesting information, we are re issuing this letter once again.

Implementing the new Constant Watch Policy, without consultation with the main stake holder which is MUMN shows clearly that your office has no respect to the nursing profession.

 Patients requiring Constant Watches are an important issue since such patients can lead to several negative repercussions on nurses such as suspensions, legal procedures and loss of warrant.

 So, imposing a new Constant Watch Policy with one carer who is expected to cope with two Constant Watches patients shows that this was tailored by MDH management in collaboration with the medical professionals, but as usual, the nurses were ignored.

 Yesterday MUMN received numerous worries and complaints from the nurses and midwives in MDH wards. From day one, such policy already had caused several anxiety and commotions amongst the nurses working in all wards. 

 Having one carer with two constant watches is not acceptable to MUMN and it will be a matter of time when a patient either injuries himself or escapes from the hospital. Since nurses are continuously responsible on the ward, all police investigation is focused on the nurses and not on the medical professionals or your inappropriately Constant Watch Policy.

 Therefore, MUMN has to safe guard the nurses and the midwives from your policy since such policy will lead to legal implications on all nurses and midwives working on all MDH wards.

 With immediate effect, starting from today, wards in MDH are ONLY to accept one constant watch patient per ward. 

MUMN will only remove the directive by allowing two constant watches per ward WHEN MDH office assures MUMN in writing that EVERY Constant Watch will have a designated carer, and a designated carer as a substitute to replace during break times . Moreover , as instructed via email on 22^nd February 2023 if for any reason there is more than one constant watch in a particular ward and this situation is not rectified by the management and the nurses are asked to cohort patients, admissions are to stop immediately. These instructions also come into effect when there is already a constant watch in the ward and this is not covered by management. MUMN will inform you in writing once assurance reaches our end.

 Nurses expect a peace of mind when coming to work and jeopardizing their job on issues beyond their responsibilities is not right. When a police and magistrate become involved, your office and that of the Permanent Secretary are always well protected, so the police are always directed to the nurses who are made the scapegoats of every issue.

 Paul Pace

President