A recent report from CUPE Saskatchewan Health Care Council shows that we need to take immediate action to address the crushing workload and understaffing of medical technologists and technicians in the province. The situation is critical, and steps need to be taken to improve staffing levels and working conditions.
This is about patient care. Medical technologists and technicians are under pressure to provide safe, accurate, high quality, and timely results to physicians and their patients. Patients’ health is at risk if there is a mistake on a blood test or if a critical diagnosis is delayed because of workload or equipment failure.
The provincial government must alleviate workload by increasing staffing levels of medical technologists and technicians. There is also a need to create a long term recruitment and retention plan to replace medical technologists and technicians who are nearing retirement.
