The current ban on recruitment in the health service is threatening the future of cancer services at St Luke’s Hospital in Rathgar, Siptu claimed today.
A third of the staff in the radiation therapy unit are on temporary fixed-term contracts which are due to come to an end in four weeks time. Hospital management have given “no indication” these contracts will be renewed, according to the union.
“At present 26 radiation therapists are unclear of their future due to their contracts of employment expiring before the end of June,” Michele Monahan, chair of Siptu’s radiographers and radiation therapists group said this afternoon.
“Siptu has sought assurances from management within the hospital that these vital frontline posts will not be subject to the rigors of the moratorium on recruitment within the public service, but local management are unclear as to what will happen in only four weeks time.”
“All they will say is they have to follow the moratorium,” she added.
Ms Monahan said there was no way patient’s needs could be met if a third of the staff in the radiation therapy unit were laid off.
“Radiation therapists are central to the provision of cancer treatment in Ireland. Those in St Luke’s treat over 300 patients daily. Cancer patients should not have to the worry that their treatment may be at risk due to the lack of staff,” she said.
According to Ms Monahan, Prof Tom Keane, director of the National Cancer Control Programme, has written to Sean McGrath, director of Human Resources with the HSE, saying that radiation therapists should be exempt from the recruitment ban.
Kevin Figgis, Siptu branch organiser, said the union was calling for an “immediate derogation from the moratorium” for St Luke’s to protect vital, front-line radiation posts.
“Anything less will jeopardise the future provision of cancer treatment within the hospital,” he said.
Efforts to contact hospital management this afternoon were unsuccessful.