Job action at KBRH to impact patients
By Kyra Hoggan
A job action at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) today may result in delays or postponements for patients, according to Interior Health Authority (IHA) spokesman Karl Hardt.
Hardt said yesterday’s job action by hospital pharmacists had no impact on patients, but today will likely be a different story.
“Some patients will be rescheduled today,” Hardt said, but said officials are still pulling together numbers on just who and how many will be impacted.
The IHA website indicated, “Job action by members of the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) is continuing Friday, December 7 and will result in diagnostic tests, day surgery, or other procedures being delayed or rescheduled for some patients.
“Interior Health is contacting patients affected to advise them of this disruption. If you have not been notified by our staff that your procedure is postponed, please attend your appointment as scheduled.”
Today’s (Friday’s) job action includes diagnostic imaging (radiology, mammography, sonography, MRI, interventional studies, CT scans, nuclear medicine services) and elective surgical procedures not requiring a hospital stay (day surgeries). The IHA website said public health inspectors, licensing officers, senior health officers, senior licensing officers, and supervisors will also reduce to essential services levels on Friday.
“The Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and the union are currently in talks with a mediator and we are hopeful that the parties can come to a quick resolution, so patient impact can be minimized,” the website reads (http://www.interiorhealth.ca/AboutUs/MediaCentre/Pages/breakingnews.aspx).
There will be no picket lines, and the emergency department will remain open for people with urgent medical issues.
Negotiations have been ongoing since February, and mediation between the two parties began Tuesday with mediator Vince Ready, but the HSPBA has made it clear job action will move forward while talks continue.
There’s no word yet on whether more job action is in the works.
