Stop staffing crisis and brain drain in health science professions

Health science professionals and concerned British Columbians can make a difference if we speak up. Please use this form to write a letter explaining your concerns in the box below or use the pre-written text we've provided as an example.

Health science professionals are crucial in every step of your health care. We’re concerned that the ongoing crisis in recruitment and retention for our professions is seriously undermining our ability to continue providing quality care in BC. We’ve taken our concerns to the bargaining table. Instead of working with us, health employers have dragged their feet.

Help us tell the government and health employers to take our concerns seriously, and help us protect BC’s health care system.
Use the form below to enter your name and email then write explaining your concerns in the box below or use the pre-written text we've provided as an example.

Your letter will be more effective if you also cc your local MLA. Please choose from the pulldown menu:

(You can look up your MLA's name by postal code)

Your name *

Your home email address *

Your message *

I am writing in support of health science professionals, and the patients who depend on their expertise. Health science professionals are crucial in every step of every patient’s health care journey. We’re concerned that the ongoing crisis in recruitment and retention for these professions is seriously undermining their ability to continue providing quality care in BC.

Patients who are dealing with an acute illness, serious injury, or chronic disease may encounter six, seven, or more different health care professionals on the road to recovery:

* Medical diagnostics including hospital laboratory, x-ray, MRI and CT scans, ultrasound, electrocardiography  
* Clinical treatment including clinical pharmacy, cardiac perfusion, respiratory therapy, radiation therapy , nutrition therapy
* Rehabilitation including physio and occupational therapy, speech language pathology 
* Recovery including psychology, social work

[OPTIONAL] I am a __(health science profession)__ . My work is important to patients and clients in BC because ____________________________.

When heart surgeries are cancelled or imperiled at St. Paul’s Hospital – BC’s Centre for Excellence in Cardiovascular Care – it’s not because of a shortage of doctors, nurses, or operating room time. It’s because of a shortage of cardiac perfusionists, part of the health science professional team that conducts cardiopulmonary bypass using a heart-lung machine and other equipment.

When wait lists grow to 18-22 months for MRI scans, it’s not because of a shortage of doctors, nurses, or available equipment. It’s because of a shortage of highly-trained imaging technologists.

When clinical pharmacists are so difficult to recruit that many rural hospitals are now permanently without a hospital pharmacist, this can put patient care at risk. Remember, it’s the pharmacists who the government wanted to hand a 15 per cent wage cut to earlier this year.

That’s only three health professions out of dozens that are experiencing chronic shortages, jeopardizing quality care for British Columbians. 
The BC government is paying respiratory therapists to the tune of $12 to $14 an hour LESS than they get paid in Alberta. Can anyone afford to make $25,000 less a year than they would make in a neighbouring province?

BC health employers were “unprepared” to bargain after seven months at the bargaining table. They were “no shows” at agreed negotiating dates after frustrated health science professionals voted 90% in support of a strike.

Health science professionals are increasingly concerned about how they are going to maintain quality care for patients. Because of staffing shortages, they are overworked, and on-call far too often. They are passionate about their work, and caring for their patients. But many are at the breaking point.

Health science professionals are asking for a reasonable wage increase in line with many other union contracts settled in the past few weeks.

I urge you to take their concerns seriously, and to engage in fair, responsible bargaining. I hope to hear from you on what you are doing to help alleviate this crisis.

Fill in this box with your letter, or use the text we've provided as an example. Remember that original letters are more effective. The final text will be sent along with your name and email.

Your email will be sent directly to:

Honourable Christy Clark, BC Premier
Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid, BC Minister of Health
Health Employers Association of BC
Honourable Adrian Dix, Leader of the Official Opposition
Honourable Mike Farnworth, Opposition Health Critic

It will also be cc'd to the following health authority chairs:

Kip Woodward, Chair, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
Don Hubbard, Chair, Vancouver Island Health Authority
Norman Embree, Chair, Interior Health Authority
David W. Mitchell, Chair, Fraser Health Authority
Dr. Chuck Jago, Chair, Northern Health Authority
Wynne Powell, Chair, Provincial Health Services Authority
Geoff Plant, Providence Health Care
Sandra Carroll, Chief Operating Officer, Associate Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health