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“HSABC/NUPGE members have reached their breaking point. This action plan provides a promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel." — Kane Tse, HSABC President
Vancouver (11 Oct. 2022) — Health science professionals across British Columbia continue to report critical staffing shortages, crushing workload, and increasing concern about how they can maintain a high standard of care for patients. Health Sciences Association of BC (HSABC/NUPGE) has been working hard to get the provincial government to act on these concerns. So, on Sept. 29, HSABC/NUPGE was happy to welcome the introduction of the health human resources strategy introduced by Health Minister Adrian Dix and Advanced Education Minister Anne Kang.
“HSABC/NUPGE members have reached their breaking point. This action plan provides a promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Kane Tse, HSABC President.
“The government has correctly identified the keys to improvement: retention, redesign, recruitment and training,” Tse stated.
Almost half of health sciences professionals consider leaving jobs
In current contract negotiations for BC’s health science professionals, HSABC/NUPGE negotiators are working to address barriers to recruitment and retention, including lagging wage rates and staffing shortages.
A recent survey of HSABC/NUPGE members found that almost half of health science professionals working in public health care are considering leaving their jobs.
For example, at one lower mainland hospital, the respiratory therapy department of 80 has seen 24 people leave the job in the last 2 years — and during a pandemic, where respiratory therapists were on the front lines keeping critically ill patients breathing.
Acknowledgment of severe staffing crisis
“This announcement is an important acknowldgement of the severity of the staffing crisis in health care. In the past several months, we’ve seen elements of the plan put in place with increased spaces for training for health science professionals and other health care workers. We look forward to working with government to support additional steps to improve the public health care system for health care providers and patients,” Tse said.