Reports of a future reduction in lab technician staffing at Keremeos Diagnostic and Treatment Centre appear to be unfounded, at least for now.
Terry Brent, Director of Operations for Interior Health Central, said the authority was not intending to eliminate any permanent positions in the lab at the Keremeos centre.
She said staffing currently consisted of one full time position the worked Monday to Friday and a temporary, four hour position that worked Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The temporary position was initiated last year in response to lengthy wait times experienced by many patients.
“We are looking at how we can improve our processes,” Brent said, “and part of that is whether or not that temporary position needs to be permanent.”
Long wait times continue to be an issue at the D and T Centre, said former regional hospital board chair Walter Despot.
They could actually use two full time lab tech positions,” he said.
