'No job yet' for new radiographers

The General Workers' Union has been asked to intervene in the case of 12 young people who completed a radiographers course in July and have not yet heard from the Health Division about their employment.

The union said this was the first time that radiographers who had completed their course successfully were not given a reply as to whether they would be employed by the government.

When contacted, health director general Ray Busuttil said the division was currently in the process of re-evaluating the staff needed for the department. This process should be completely shortly, Dr Busuttil said, adding that this was not an easy process as the division was evaluating the manning levels needed at St Luke's Hospital while keeping Mater Dei Hospital in mind.

He said that once the re-evaluation is complete, the division would recruit radiographers as necessary. Previously, all those who successfully completed the course would be employed.

Health Minister Louis Deguara told The Times the division recruited staff in line with the manpower plan.

According to the union, the young people told section secretary Josephine Attard Sultana that their only chance for employment was with the Health Division because the private sector never employed radiographers who had just completed their course. Moreover, it said, private clinics employ Health Division radiographers on a part-time basis.

The union has requested an urgent meeting with Health Minister Louis Deguara to determine the future of these young people.

A meeting for the radiographers will be held in the coming days.