Would-be nursing students have been turned away from the nursing course at the University because there is no place for them, the Labour Party said this morning.

It said the students had been turned away despite the acute shortage of nurses which the country is suffering, as well as a promise made by the authorities some months ago that all suitably qualified students would be accepted.

The party spokesman for health, Michael Farrugia said that more than 200 students have so far been turned away from the nursing course.

He said it was the government's duty to ensure that the University had the resources to enable more students to join the nursing course.

"The country has lost another opportunity to ease the nursing shortage in a few years' time. This also sends a bad signal to those who may wish to follow nursing in the coming years, Dr Farrugia said.

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