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Opposition reiterates call for health care professional shortage to be addressed June 20, 2007 Dwight Ball, Opposition Health and Community Services Critic and MHA for the District of Humber Valley, is once again calling on government to address the issue of understaffing in several health care professions in the province. Yesterday, medical laboratory and x-ray technologists held protests to bring attention to the chronic shortage of these professionals in the province’s hospitals. These protests took place at various hospitals throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. "Over the past several weeks, I have brought the understaffing concerns of nurses and doctors to the floor of the House of Assembly," said Mr. Ball. "Now, we hear of protests by lab and x-ray technologists who are asking that their issues be addressed by government. The Minister of Health and Community Services is certainly aware of these shortages, but is unwilling to recognize it as a problem. I question when the minister is finally going to admit that there is a crisis in the recruitment and retention of our health care professionals and do something to address this alarming situation. "The province’s physicians have already taken out newspaper ads to send their message to government; nurses have staged protests because they are being refused vacation time this summer due to a lack of nurses; and now lab and x-ray technologists are no longer willing to sit idly by while their workloads increase because of additional demands and fewer staff. The time has come for government to act and make an investment in our health care professionals. "Government’s recent wage freezes and sick leave reductions did nothing to encourage these professionals to stay in the province. Unless dramatic action is taken to address these concerns, I fear we may see more significant shortages in the near future. The minister must take the first step and admit there is a problem, then he will hopefully act to improve the situation instead of making up more excuses."
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