These students have reported missing belongings while doing their attachment in the operating theatre where they have to completely change their clothes and leave their belongings in changing rooms or specific areas near the changing room. These students were surprised after finishing their attachment to find some of their belongings missing including money and wallets. 

When reporting the incidents to workers in the changing room, the workers helped the students with reporting the incidents. However, they advised students not to leave their belongings in changing rooms but to leave them near the workers’ office, especially since students don’t have lockers to store their items. Students were also advised to keep their wallets and phone on them at all times.

The scene in the changing rooms when the theft was reported to workers shows that it wasn’t the first time such incidents have occurred, and the changing rooms are not the only area where something similar has happened, with a student saying that money was stolen from her wallet last week when she was doing her attachment in the wards. Another student responded by saying that she has been told to never leave money with her belongings in the wards as it always gets stolen.

MMSA statement on the alleged theft

The Third Eye has reached out to MMSA for a response about the alleged theft of student belongings and the following was stated

MMSA strongly condemns the recent alleged incident of theft occurring in Mater Dei Hospital ….

MMSA demanded that greater action needs to be taken in light of these allegations

MMSA would like to call for greater security presence around the hospital, especially in the common area, we believe that all medical students should be provided with a safe and secure place to store their personal belongings whilst on attachments in the hospital without the added stress caused by these alleged incidents

MMSA also didn’t forget the lost belongings of students in these cases, adding

We also urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this matter with the goal of locating a culprit and returning the alleged stolen personal belongings to their rightful owners

For the full statement click here.

Important note

It’s important to note that everything stated in this article is still allegations and students’ reports with no official statement from the hospital or relevant authorities as of the date of publication.

We have removed all the names and associated information from the messages to protect the right of privacy of the students and have asked for permission to post these texts.

For other MMSA related articles click here.

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Those enrolled in medicine, nursing, pharmaceutical, applied biomedical, physiotherapy, chemistry, and radiography courses have all been contacted to see how they could be of assistance. The work requested of them varied from assisting at Mater Dei Hospital or helping with 111/112 Helplines.

Medicine students have been approached to help with 3 main things on a voluntary basis, MMSA board members informed The Third Eye. MMSA were asked to gather volunteers to help with the 111 Helpline as well as the 112 Helpline (since officials expect the number of calls to increase). Medicine students, mainly 5th years’, have also been asked to aid at the swabbing center.

MHSA executive members also informed us on the number of students called to help from health science courses.

Nursing students from both second and third year and both diploma and degree courses have been called in to be employed on a part-time contract and are paid at varying rates each. The contract is ulterior to the students’ studies and does not contribute towards placement hours.

Applied Biomedical, Physiotherapy and Radiography students were also asked to help on a voluntary basis, be it in labs or on the 111 helpline. Finally, pharmacy students were also approached via an email sent on 15th March to the pharmaceutical technology students requesting them to help prepare mixtures of handrub at Mater Dei Hospital.

Malta Chamber of Pharmacists have issued the process that needs to be followed by the students assisting in this situation.

Whether students are paid or otherwise, the hours spent helping will not be compensated as placement hours.

The post How are students volunteering amidst the Corona Crisis? appeared first on The Third Eye.