HACSU medical scientists who work in the Pathology laboratory at the Launceston General Hospital are today walking off the job for 30 minutes to protest the government’s inaction on recruiting additional workers to help meet the current demand for services.
HACSU has repeatedly called on the government to commit to immediately recruit additional medical scientists to address chronic retention and attraction issues. The understaffing sees critical testing being sent to the private sector and patients and other health professionals waiting longer for important testing results than they really should.
These staffing shortfalls have had a significant effect on the community’s ability to access vital test results, with services to Theatre, emergency department and wards often reduced. The Department of Health committed to applying for further funding from the state budget but has refused to immediately advertise these difficult to fill positions which means the community will have to wait for a solution.
“Pathology workers are currently facing a critical shortage, with a measurable increase in demand and no further workers employed to meet that demand. This shortfall is leading to significant and unacceptable challenges, which in turn are causing delays and preventing the Tasmanian community from receiving vital test results that are essential for their health,” HACSU Industrial Manager Lucas Digney says.
“Before the state election, the health minister promised to address the issues plaguing our health system and this is something straightforward and easy – just advertise additional jobs that are needed to meet the demand but all we hear from the Department is excuse after excuse.”
Union members in Pathology do not take the decision to stop work lightly, but feel they have no other choice until there is a solution to the current staffing issues put on the table.