2023-08-10 04:00:00
A serious shortage of laboratory technologists is hitting Quebec hospitals hard and could jeopardize care in certain key sectors such as emergencies or operating rooms, doctors warn.
“It is our duty to inform you of this critical situation, because no sector of the hospital could hold out for long with a 30% shortage of staff”, co-sign three medical specialists from the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Quebec, which includes five establishments.
In a letter delivered to management on August 3, obtained by The newspaper, the three department heads, the Drs Olivier Larochelle, Vincent Laroche and François Rousseau, express their “extreme concern”.
A third of medical technologist positions (65 out of 201) are vacant in the main multidisciplinary laboratories of the CHU, the document indicates.
Cancellations of surgeries
These technicians are responsible for analyzing all kinds of essential samples, such as blood, to treat patients quickly. Without these results, caregivers often cannot proceed with a diagnosis, treatment or operation.
“The ability of our laboratories to respond to analysis requests for all our care units depends on it in order to avoid, among other things, the closure of our emergencies or our operating rooms”, they underline.
Moreover, the Dr Larochelle insists on the fact that this “cry of alarm” must be taken seriously by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) to give a boost.
“In the coming weeks, there will be surgery cancellations if we are not heard more than that,” warns the head of the hematology and oncology clinic, joined by The newspaper.
“In the time of COVID, they were able to turn around on a dime,” he adds.
Quebec on August 9, 2023 Dr Olivier Larochelle, head of the hematology-oncology department at the Enfant-Jésus hospital in Quebec. He denounces that the shortage of medical technologists will jeopardize patient services or surgeries at the CHU de Quebec. Photo Agency/QMI photographer René Baillargeon
René Baillargeon / QMI Agency
The shortage of technologists is felt everywhere in Quebec, while several hospitals have to juggle vacant positions that slow down the efficiency of the system.
The shortage will get worse
According to the union of the Alliance of Professional and Technical Personnel in Health and Social Services (APTS), the shortage will worsen in the coming years.
“We are having trouble attracting young people, and the private sector is becoming more attractive,” reacts Robert Comeau, president of the APTS. We will no longer be able to provide the service at some point.”
At the top of the pay scale, technologists earn $35.67 per hour.
In their letter, the three doctors suggest various measures to be put in place quickly, in particular financing laboratory robotization projects and facilitating employee training and transfers to different hospitals.
On the side of the CHU de Québec, management says it is concerned about the “difficult” situation, but replies that the employees “work together […] on innovative avenues with the objective of maintaining access and quality of patient care and maintaining this essential service offer.
Among the actions undertaken, we note the optimization of certain analyses, representations to the MSSS and the enhancement of the trade.
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