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Newcastle lands key role in international programme to combat Malta's nursing shortage

Newcastle will soon play a key role in countering Malta’s national nursing shortage after Northumbria University was chosen to deliver a training contract.

Supported by the Maltese Government, Malta Enterprise and the Maltese Union of Midwives and Nurses, a contract has been agreed which will see Northumbria deliver a new full time three year BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies degree programme in Malta, in collaboration with Malta College of Arts Science and Technology (MCAST).

The new €2 million programme, funded by Singapore company Vitals Global Healthcare, will begin in October 2017 with 30 students trained per year during its first years; with numbers increasing significantly over time.

The degree programme will meet all of the requirements of the EU Directive for General Nursing; the Malta Council for Nurses and Midwives’ Scope of Professional Practice; and Malta Council for Nurses and Midwives’ Code of Ethics.

The first year of the programme will be taught at MCAST main campus, until works to build a state-of-the art clinical skills teaching facility at the St Luke’s Medical site are completed. The new facility is being built and run by Vitals Global Healthcare as part of €200 million investment programme in three hospitals by the Maltese Government.

Northumbria University was chosen to deliver the degree programme due to its global reputation as a leading nursing education and training provider. Its UK based Pre-registration nursing programmes are approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and were the first in the UK to be accredited by the Royal College of Nursing.

Dr Alison Machin, Associate Professor in Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to be partners in this important Maltese nursing development.

“Our selection is testament to our global reputation for academic excellence in nursing and builds on our existing high quality international portfolio of teaching and research.

“As well as helping to train and educate Malta’s future nurses to the highest possible standards we are helping the Government improve the quality of healthcare by providing more nurses into the system.”