HALIFAX – A union that represents Nova Scotia health workers says a sharp drop in the number of respiratory technicians in the province is jeopardizing patient care.
The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union said today that the central region of Nova Scotia Health should have 52 full-time staff, but with departures from the province, the numbers of technicians are expected to drop to as low as 32 in the fall.
The union says workers are warning the shortage in staffing is harming care, adding that the IWK’s Life Flight service was suspended for more than 50 hours between January and March due to a lack of available technicians.
The Life Flight service transports critical neonatal and obstetric patients to the IWK Health Centre from across the Maritimes.
The union says respiratory therapists in Nova Scotia are the lowest paid in Canada, with their senior counterparts in PEI making $10 more per hour.
Hugh Gillis, a vice-president of the union, says the decline in staff comes from current respiratory therapists looking for better opportunities in neighbouring provinces.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2024.
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