By Angela Hill

Health workers tentative agreement welcome

Jul 12, 2011 | 11:27 AM

While a tentative agreement between health employers and health sciences union is welcome, the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region is still rescheduling appointments.

During the five days of job action in the region, one in May and four in June, there were about 690 appointments cancelled.

“I think we are at various stages of being able to reschedule,” said Doug Dahl, communications officer with the region.

Of those, a little more than half were for the cardio pulmonary exercise program.

“The 350 wouldn’t be (rescheduled), those cardiac rehab programs, there is a schedule for those and people come to them, so they wouldn’t be rescheduled,” Dahl said.

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The classes are held three days a week with multiple sessions per day — on May 9 there were 130 people scheduled to come to the day’s classes.

A majority of the rest of the appointments were for clients of the mental health outpatient or therapies departments.

“We’re working on getting those appointments rescheduled as quickly as possible. I can’t say for sure that all of them have. Some of that will depend upon the availability of the providers as well as potentially plans that the clients had,” Dhal said.

He said that the region is happy that there seems to be an agreement in place and it doesn’t look like there will be further interruptions to care.

The tentative agreement between health care employers and the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan was reached July 8.

It is progress from the previously offered “final offer,” said Cathy Dickson, union president in a press release.

The agreement was reviewed during meetings Monday and a copy of the recommendation, the memorandum of agreement and a ballot mailed to each union member.

“We expect this process to be completed within thirty days,” Dickson said.

All returned ballots must be postmarked no later than July 25.

ahill@panow.com