NEW GLASGOW, NS A newly-released, national study confirms what Lab and X-Ray Technologists here in Nova Scotia have been saying for at least three years.
That assertion comes today from the union representing hundreds of Techs across the province.
Karen MacKenzie, Acute Care Spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, says the study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (www.cihi.ca) raises all the same red flags that weve been raising with the minister of health. Frontline workers have a simple question for this governmentwhat is the plan for addressing this widely recognized problem?
If they have a plan, theyre certainly keeping it to themselves, she says.
Mackenzie says, In December 2004, the Hamm government announced they were acquiring four, new, multi-million-dollar MRI machines. CUPE welcomed the new machines but said at the time theres nobody trained to run them.
Now this study from a leading national institute is saying the exact same thing, says MacKenzie.
Linda Jobe, who is the President of the Nova Scotia Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (NSAMRT), says the new study also points to the rapidly ageing workforce here in this province.
Says Jobe, The association has ongoing concerns with the inadequate number of Techs that are graduating. In District Health Authority 4 where I work, the average age of a Tech is 48. We have no one under the age of 35 right now.
For information:
Karen MacKenzie, CUPE Spokesperson for Acute Care, 899-0840 (Cell) - 893-2286 (o)
Linda Jobe, President, NSAMRT - 893-2286 (o)
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Rep. - (902) 455-4180 (o)