HSPBA tables proposals aimed at protecting quality public health care

Bargaining for a new contract for health science professionals continued this week in Richmond, with the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) tabling a number of proposals aimed at protecting quality public health care.

“As health care professionals, we are deeply concerned with maintaining our quality public health care system. We are trying to find ways that together we can protect and improve our system,” said Frank De Waard, CUPE representative to the HSPBA bargaining committee and President of CUPE Local 4816.

HSPBA has proposed a joint committee to reduce patient wait times for diagnostic services and to address shortages of diagnostic and other specialists on the health care team.

The joint committee would explore key issues that create the delays, including: booking systems, effective use of facilities and equipment, supply of the specialized staff, and the supply and condition of the sophisticated technology required.

The unions have also proposed a joint committee to address the workload issues that act as deterrents to recruitment. The committee would make recommendations to make the work of health science professionals more efficient and effective. Issues to be explored include providing appropriate leadership and caseloads for health science professionals, maximizing health science professionals’ scope of practice, and reducing their administrative tasks to ensure their focus is on diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients.

Bargaining continues in August.

The Health Sciences Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) bargains on behalf of 16,000 health science professionals in British Columbia. CUPE represents over 500 members in this bargaining association, represented by CUPE Locals 15, 1978 and 4816.

Please continue to check the CUPE BC website for updates at www.cupe.bc.ca

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