NAPE is sounding the alarm over what it calls a “severe shortage” of medical laboratory assistants in the health care system.
The union says a notice was issued today by NL Health Services advising that there will be no blood collection for inpatients, outpatients, clinics or emergencies for the entire day at the Health Sciences.
(Submitted photo)
They say a similar internal emo was issued on September 12th, which saw inpatient blood collection delayed and cancelled at the Health Sciences at St. Clare’s.
NAPE says the assistants are responsible for collecting, labelling, and preparing blood and other samples, and are often one of the first points of contact for patients.
NAPE President Jerry Earle (VOCM News File Photo)
President Jerry Earle calls that “simply unacceptable,” arguing that patients are “being denied critical care, facing major delays in diagnosis and treatment, and even experiencing postponed discharges from acute care beds.”
On the staffing end of things, he says people are carrying “impossible” workloads under what he deems “awful working conditions.”
Earle states that the situation is “devastating” for workers and patients, noting that some people may have travelled from other parts of the province for bloodwork only to have the appointment cancelled at the last minute.
NAPE is calling on both government and NLHS to take immediate action to address the staffing issues.
