The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists is expressing serious worries about access to radiation therapy in Newfoundland and Labrador in light of the recent resignations of up to eight local members of the profession.

A fully-staffed radiation therapy department at the Dr. H Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre in St. John’s has 30 radiation therapists, however eight left their positions between May 1st of 2022 and February 3rd of 2023.

In addition, another eight radiation therapists will be needed when the planned radiation treatment facility is Corner Brook is finally opened.

That is a serious concern according to Jenn Carey, a manager at the association’s Atlantic division.

She says efforts to recruit new professionals to the province are not proving to be as successful as government may have hoped.

That’ because radiation therapists in this province are paid about $10 dollars an hour less than their counterparts in other areas of the country says Carey.

Opposition health critic Paul Dinn says the province needs to make recruitment of radiation therapists a priority to ensure treatment is available when needed.