SIPTU representatives have called on the HSE to address the lack of opportunities for recent Radiographer and Radiation Therapist graduates to take up employment in the public health service.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John McCamley, said: “Graduates are facing major challenges in securing employment in the public health system despite major deficits in staff numbers for Radiation Therapists and Radiographers across the country. The HSE no longer offers these graduates employment as a matter of course leading to further deficits and delays in services including X-rays, CT scans and cancer treatment.
“Radiographer and Radiation Therapist are facing a stark choice to leave the country to take up employment or to move into different careers. This is due to the HSE no longer offering graduates employment opportunities. This will mean longer delays for the public in securing vital medical procedures including cancer treatment. Already extremely expensive equipment is lying idle in hospitals due to lack of staff. This situation will be further exacerbated by treating graduates in this way”.
He added: “We are calling on the HSE and the Department of Health to reverse the decisions not to offer Radiographer and Radiation Therapy graduates employment. We are also calling for the HSE to properly staff and resource departments and units to make sure that these services can address the needs of patients and service users across the country.”