Medical technologists at Cornwall Regional and Savanna-la-Mar hospitals take industrial action

Doctors at two of western Jamaica’s major public hospitals are hoping that an industrial dispute involving medical technologists will be quickly resolved, as concern grows over the potential impact of the action on the pace and quality of medical care.

Clinical Coordinator for the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr Delroy Fray, told The Gleaner that he was informed around 9 a.m. Monday that medical technologists at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James and the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland had taken industrial action.

Fray said he was not aware that there was an issue with the workers and that he immediately reached out to the WRHA’s human resource division for answers.

According to Fray, the protesting workers had previously written to the regional authority concerning arrears and allowances, including uniform allowances.

The WRHA, he said, responded in a letter dated June 27, addressing “every point” raised in the correspondence.

“They (WRHA) were sort of happy that the issue would be resolved,” said Fray.

“But clearly, based on the action, they were not satisfied with it.”

Fray said he has not yet spoken with any of the technologists, but he has been assured by the WRHA that plans are in place to pay the outstanding amounts in the July salary.

The absence of the workers has started to pose operational challenges.

Medical technologists perform critical blood investigations that support the work of clinicians in diagnosing and treating patients.

Fray said some of the workers turned up for duties but more than half of the staff have reportedly stayed off the job.

So far, all emergency cases requiring blood investigations have been handled, Fray disclosed.

However, if the dispute continues into Tuesday, the hospitals may have to outsource routine laboratory investigations to a private hospital in Montego Bay.

“If we have to outsource come tomorrow some of the lab investigations, it would cause a delay, and it can affect the speed in which we treat our patients,” Fray warned.

“So I am hoping that this issue will be addressed tomorrow and not go into tomorrow.”

“The blood investigations affect every emergency case that comes in, every patient that needs to go to the operating theatre, any patient that needs blood transfusion,” he said.

“This is something that cannot go on. I'm hoping by this evening, it will be resolved.”

The Western Regional Health Authority, which falls under the Ministry of Health and Wellness, is responsible for overseeing the public health system in St James, Trelawny, Hanover, and Westmoreland.

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