Health Science Professionals

HSA has contracted with Viewpoints Research to conduct a survey of HSA members on issues related to current contract negotiations. Your feedback is important and valuable to your bargaining committee. If you are contacted by Viewpoints Research in the coming week, we encourage you to participate in the telephone survey, which will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Please contact...

Labour adjustment agreement reached in consolidation of diagnostic imaging services throughout Lower Mainland HSA has completed negotiations with Lower Mainland health authorities for a transition to a region-wide consolidation of diagnostic imaging services. The agreement allows for the significant restructuring of services without displacements and layoffs of diagnostic imaging staff. The health authorities ... Fraser Health, Providence, Provincial Health, and...

Health science professionals who work with children have been receiving employer notifications regarding the requirement for criminal records checks. As a result of amendments to the Criminal Records Review Act which came into effect in January 2008, all employees who work with or have unsupervised access to children (under age 19) must undergo a criminal records check every five years...

For immediate release Despite strong community opposition and media attention, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority continues to dismantle the outpatient Domestic Violence Program at Vancouver General Hospital. The 18-year-old program is slated to close at the end of this week. HSA President Reid Johnson said the sudden closure of this program puts vulnerable women at risk. -In-patient care is very...

For immediate release Reid Johnson, president of Health Sciences Association, today urged the Vancouver Island Health Authority not to waste time conducting experiments in ideology when they could be taking action to reduce MRI wait times immediately. Johnson was commenting on VIHAs decision to seek bids to perform 6000 MRI scans in private facilities outside the public system, where MRI...

The Vancouver Island Health Authority reported Sunday that the last patients from MV Sun Sea have been discharged, and the emergency response centre at Victoria General Hospital has now been closed. The health authority and unions have issued a final joint bulletin thanking all health care workers for their assistance in delivering medical care during this international humanitarian emergency. Read...

A small number of patients have begun to arrive today at the special unit prepared for the emergency medical care of migrants from the MV Sun Sea. The Vancouver Island Health Authority and the health care unions have issued a second joint bulletin to update health care workers. Click here to view second joint bulletin HSA thanks members responding to...

Over the past few days, VIHA has been working with health care unions to provide information and address concerns in preparation for receiving refugees requiring emergency medical care. Canadian officials confirmed today that 490 refugees are aboard a vessel approaching the BC coast. The old emergency department at Victoria General Hospital has been temporarily reopened to provide screening, triage, assessment...

Vancouver Island Health Authority has withdrawn a Section 54 notice related to a plan to consolidate all Vancouver Island microbiology laboratory services in Victoria. Last week, the health authority advised the union and members that it planned to close down microbiology services at Nanaimo Regional and Campbell River Hospitals. VIHA served notice that it was beginning a Section 54 process...

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. -British Columbians depend on a quality public health care system for their good health. It is incumbent upon all parties at the bargaining table to get...