Issues, Campaigns and Government Relations
"Buildings and equipment don't treat patients. Health professional treat patients." HSA President Val Avery went live on CFAX last week to talk about how the provincial budget failed to do anything for people waiting on long wait lists for health care. Listen to the interview here Vancouver Island Health Authority recently disclosed that 18,000 patients were waiting for ultrasound testing...
The BC Liberal government has rejected a call for immediate action to address the critical shortage of sonographers in BC by providing them with a competitive wage. Instead of a wage adjustment and other financial incentives recommended in a report by the joint Recruitment and Retention Committee, which includes representatives from the employer, HEABC, and the union bargaining association, HSPBA...
The HSPBA/HEABC Recruitment and Retention Committee last reported that it had submitted its Report and Recommendations concerning the sonographer shortage to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat (PSEC), in accordance with the parties’ mandate under the Memorandum of Understanding that created the Committee during the last round of bargaining. The Committee’s detailed report outlined...
On Friday December 9, 2016, the provincial government announced a proposal to establish a new college of diagnostic and therapeutic health professions. Many HSA members would be included in the new college. Professional associations representing members from several health science professional disciplines have for several years advocated for a regulatory college or colleges to oversee their members’ practice. The new...
HSA support available to run or work in May 9, 2017 provincial election Printer-friendly bulletin for posting. HSA members throughout the province who are running for office or working in the upcoming provincial election may apply to HSA for financial support from HSA’s Political Action Fund. 1. Members who are candidates may apply for up to 30 days of wage...
HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2016 There are a lot of good reasons to get involved in an election campaign. Many members decide to work on an election campaign because they belong to a political party, or get inspired by the party leader. Lexie Mercier, a health information management professional at the BC Cancer Agency, had a more personal reason. Lexie's...
HSA REPORT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2016 Shortages of health professionals are hurting patient care and the people who deliver it. HSA is taking action by raising public awareness of how shortages create longer wait times, while mobilizing members to provide key information on where and how the resulting workload issues are happening. This fall, HSA rolled out a new ad using...
With flu season around the corner, HSA members are reminded of the provincial influenza control policy in effect in BC. In spite of changes in other provinces, the flu prevention policy in BC has not changed, and health care workers who choose not to be vaccinated have options available to them, including wearing a surgical mask. Health care workers must...
HSA has contracted with Viewpoints Research to conduct a survey to find out more about how HSA members feel about how their union responds to concerns and communicates important information. The survey will include questions related to contract negotiations, workload, member communications and other current issues. The survey will be conducted on line. Members will receive email invitations starting October...
Space is still available in HSA's 2-day, non-partisan election campaign school for members who are interested in working on election campaigns or running for political office. The school will focus on opportunities for HSA members to be involved in the May 2017 provincial election, but will also touch on municipal and federal elections. If you want to help elect representatives...