Criticism of radiographers’ reduced working hours in an audit of government finances is “unjust and unfair”, according to the Society of Medical Radiographers.
The society was reacting to an observation by the National Audit Office that radiologists are paid overtime for additional hours above their 35-hour week.
An X-ray of public finances by the NAO was critical of the manner in which overtime and allowances are paid at Mater Dei Hospital, overshooting the allocated budget by some €700,000.
One of the issues highlighted was the reduced working week of radiographers. The NAO said nobody could provide it with the international guidelines quoted by the hospital administration to justify their 35-hour work week.
But radiographers have taken umbrage, insisting that they are directly exposed to ionising radiation on a daily basis, putting their own health at risk for the benefit of patients.
“It is a surprise that the issue of protected hours is being questioned, particularly when this has always been common practice in many countries for years as a means of compensation to radiographers for the potential radiation risks involved in their daily practice,” the organisation said.
To back up their arguments, radiographers listed in their statement a number of internet links to foreign health service work practices, showing that arrangements for shorter working weeks did exist.
They said work practices in different countries showed that radiographers worked between 35 hours and 37.5 hours a week and had additional vacation leave.
Radiographers said they have not been paid overtime for some time now but insisted there were “justifiable situations” whereby overtime could be necessary to ensure continuity of care, patient and occupational safety and better accessibility to the many different medical imaging services provided at hospital.
In a reaction to the NAO report on Tuesday, the Health Ministry said it was investigating the matter involving radiographers and the lack of guidelines regulating the practice of working reduced hours.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com