NAPE is sounding the alarm about what it calls a critical shortage of radiation therapists in the province.

The union says there have been seven resignations in the past year—two in the past week alone—hampering the province’s ability to provide cancer treatment.

NAPE President Jerry Earle says the province is down by radiation therapists by about 30 per cent. He says radiation therapists are highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals who are in high demand right across the country.

He says this province simply isn’t competitive with other jurisdictions, affecting retention rates.

“Here in NL, in health care for some reason, it seems our health care workers are not as valued as some health care workers in other provinces,” says Earle.

The issue was raised in the House of Assembly yesterday, with Health Minister Tom Osborne responding to questions raised by Terra Nova MHA Lloyd Parrott who was told by a patient that the radiation unit was down and a backlog of patients due to lack of staff.

Osborne indicated that radiation therapy was able to be provided to patients within the 28 day benchmark, but staffing shortages have changed that. Osborne says patients are now being sent to Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto for treatment, with all costs covered by the province.