Scans off as staff shortage bites
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has been forced to cancel dozens of magnetic resonance imaging scans because of a shortage of radiographers.
It comes three years after the Health Services Union warned that chronic staff shortages caused by poor workforce planning would worsen once Fiona Stanley Hospital opened.
MRI produces detailed images of the body to diagnose diseases and injuries, including cancer.
A North Metropolitan Health Service spokesman confirmed SCGH's radiology department had a shortage of medical imaging technologists in its MRI service.
As a result, one of its two MRI scanners was temporarily operating reduced hours, including no evening outpatient MRI appointments, resulting in rescheduling of some appointments.
"Some outpatients have been referred to Royal Perth Hospital for their MRI scan, where there is available capacity," he said.
The spokesman said outpatients were also offered the option of going to private MRI operators where possible.
Emergency MRIs were not affected.
_The West Australian _understands some patients turned up for planned scans only to be told the scans had been cancelled.
HSUWA secretary Dan Hill said workers in the hospital's radiology department took industrial action a year ago because of chronic understaffing issues.
"Unfortunately there remains a staff shortage in the department, which is causing significant workload pressures, with members being required to work irregular shift patterns and excessive overtime," he said.
Mr Hill said staff were concerned patient care could be affected. "This is yet another example of the Health Department's general lack of workforce planning," he said.
The department spokesman said it was recruiting new staff to fill vacancies and manage patient demand.
