A Nova Scotia union is drawing attention to a lack of respiratory therapists as they bargain with the province for a new collective agreement.
The Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU) said a lack of staff grounded the IWK’s Life Flight helicopter for about 50 hours between January and March.
Hugh Gillis, first vice-president of NSGEU, said these workers are highly skilled and in demand across the country, but because of working conditions and low wages compared to other provinces, Nova Scotia can’t “retain or recruit here.”
“The public should be very concerned that we have these vacancies. It’s putting patients at risk critically ill patients,” said Gillis.
IWK says Life Flight team now fully staffed
Gillis and other union members spoke to some of the IWK Life Flight team members, who mentioned the the flight was down for about 50 hours between January and March. Those union members told Gillis it was because of staffing shortages.
The team was short one respiratory therapist in that same time frame, according to IWK spokesperson Andrea Slaney.
Slaney said that worker was completing orientation and the team is now fully staffed.
Gillis did not have any information regarding flight delays or downtimes between March and now.
The IWK has 22.9 full-time equivalent respiratory therapists, but they need 5.36 more full-time equivalent jobs covered.
“Similar to other jurisdictions, the IWK is not immune to staffing challenges with respect to recruiting respiratory therapists,” wrote Slaney in an email.
“Our unwavering priority remains the safety and well-being of our patients and healthcare professionals, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality, timely care across the province,” wrote Slaney.
24 vacancies in central zone, says province
Gillis said there are 30 vacancies for respiratory therapist positions in the province.
According to government spokesperson Brendan Elliott, there are 24 vacancies in just the central zone, which is made up of Halifax, Eastern Shore and Windsor-West Hants.
He said the government is actively recruiting for respiratory therapist positions.
However, the province and the union have different estimates for current employees.
Elliott said there are 63 full-time equivalent respiratory therapists in the central zone. That means those 63 jobs are split by multiple people, in this by 83.
But the union said there should be 52 permanent full-time equivalent respiratory therapists in the central zone.
It’s unclear if the government’s estimate is different because employees in their estimate are not considered “permanent.”
Gillis said it’s possible the government is counting respiratory therapists pulled from other departments, which could create staffing shortages and delays elsewhere in the hospital.
The province and several health-care unions enter conciliation talks this week for a new collective agreement.
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