Penny-pinching States puts life-line scanner at risk

GUERNSEY was close to losing the use of its life-saving MRI scanner, it emerged yesterday.

But a unanimous decision by an industrial disputes panel prevented that from happening when it awarded radiographers a make-or-break pay deal.

The scanner cost £820,000 which was raised by a public appeal launched by BBC Guernsey and Rotary Guernesiais.

Radiographers had asked for a 15% pay increase as recommended by the Society of Radiographers for increased responsibility that they now have for patient treatment.

The States as employer rejected this in favour of 9% and yesterday's unanimous decision against it indicated how badly handled the matter had been.

Laura Slimm (pictured), classed as a senior one radiographer, who has worked at the PEH since August 2007, threatened to leave the island because she could not afford to live on her salary without the full rise. As one of only two people here trained to use the scanner, this would have made it inoperable.

Its use was further put in jeopardy because Miss Slimm's superior had also threatened to leave because of the pay situation.