Union takes issue with hospital's stand

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin's health services section said it was "surprised" by the St Luke's Hospital management statement following a two-hour stoppage by radiographers on Monday.

The hospital management said the strike called by the UHM to protest against lack of staff in the radiography department was uncalled for and detrimental to the smooth running of the department.

While the union said radiographers who had left the hospital in the past 18 months had not been replaced and that the remaining radiographers had to fulfil duties beyond their job description the hospital management said it had "absolutely no control" over the recruitment of newly graduated radiographers.

The union had been protesting against a government decision not to recruit radiographers including a number of professionals who graduated last year.

The UHM said yesterday that once the St Luke's Hospital management distanced itself from the government's decision it should have thanked the union for taking action to ask for more radiographers as the ultimate aim is to improve the service.

The UHM said no union would let its members suffer the consequences of physical and mental stress. Nor would it allow the level of service at the hospital to deteriorate further. "This is why the union deems as unjust comments made by the hospital management in its regard," the UHM said.