Pathology workers at the Launceston General Hospital will walk off the job this morning to protest what the union describes as the government’s inaction on recruiting additional workers to help meet the current demand for services.
It comes hot on the heels of nurses taking action last week, with their union calling an unofficial code yellow over staffing issues in the emergency department.
The Health and Community Services Union says its members have seen a 20 percent increase in workload without any extra resources to cope.
“Pathology workers are currently facing a critical shortage, with a measurable increase in demand
and no further workers employed to meet that demand,” HACSU Industrial Manager Lucas Digney said.
“This shortfall is leading to significant and unacceptable challenges, which in turn are causing delays and preventing the Tasmanian community from receiving vital test results that are essential for their health”.
