The president of the province’s largest public sector union says the temporary shutdown of the blood collection clinic at the Waterford Hospital is another symptom of the crisis facing the province’s health care system.

Eastern Health had to shut the clinic down yesterday due to a shortage of medical laboratory assistants. Staffing at the clinic was down by half, and then the remaining staff fell ill. Non-urgent patients were being directed to rebook their blood collection appointments.

NAPE President Jerry Earle says every segment of the health care system has an impact on other areas, and blood collection is an essential first-step in diagnosing illness.

He says all professions within the system have to work together to find solutions to staffing shortages.

He says COVID is still circulating in the community and affecting staff who “get sick too.” That results in greater stress and strain on remaining staff. “We have to find a way collectively through this,” says Earle. He admits it’s not going to be easy, but immediate and longer-term solutions need to be found.