By Angela Hill

Rural X-ray, lab services reduced

Dec 8, 2010 | 11:27 AM

Reductions to X-ray and laboratory services in rural areas of the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region have gone into effect.

“We will no longer be doing X-rays in the community of (Leoville) and Hafford due to the low volumes, the aging equipment and we wanted to makes sure that our patients, when they did have X-rays, that the X-rays were of high quality,” said Cecile Hunt, CEO of the health region.

“Some of the patient safety literature is quite clear around low volume X-ray sites. This isn’t about staff competency it’s about doing things often enough to stay really good at it.”

According to health region data, in the 2009-10 year there were 5,500 X-rays done in Shellbrook. For the same time period in Leoville, there were 124 X-rays done for 94 patients. Another part of the reason for the cutbacks is finances, said Hunt.

This frustrates one concerned resident in Hafford.

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He said while the health region is now saving money, the burden is falling to patients who are now required to travel that much further, either by car or ambulance to have their medical test done.

“They’re just not helping us,” he said, during a phone interview.

Many people in the community of Hafford are upset with the changes, he said.

“I think we are hearing some concerns from the community members and we will need to work through each of those concerns with the individuals,” Hunt said.

Two fulltime-equivalent positions that were lost, which means about 13 people were impacted directly through either changes to their positions or being displaced, said region officials.

CUPE 4777 president Carol McKnight said she had discussions with 20 to 30 people about the changes.

“Some have been displaced into other positions, some have taken a reduction in their hours and some unfortunately are left with nowhere to displace and are going to be feeling the crunch at the employers discretion,” she said.

McKnight said it was important for the union to make sure the health region followed the collective agreement when it came to the changes.

It has taken time for the region to work through the staffing issues through the collective agreements, said Hunt.

“There is a process and it has taken time,” she said.

The PAPHR first announced the reduction in hours and service availability as part of their budget last May.

A complete list of the new lab hours can be found online at the PAPHR website.

ahill@panow.com