MEDICAL technologists employed at Victoria Jubilee and Kingston Public hospitals yesterday stayed off the job in protest against the appointment of Dr Michelle Hamilton to the post of National Laboratory Services director.

Hamilton, a news release from the Union of Technical, Administrative, and Supervisory Personnel said, assumed duties yesterday.

The release said that since 2014, medical technologists assigned to the National Public Health Laboratory, National Blood Transfusion Services, Emergency Labs, and Cross Match Units at the hospitals have written to the past director of laboratory services, director of human resource at the Ministry of Health (MOH), and permanent secretary in the MOH complaining about issues relating to Dr Hamilton.

The release said that none of the complaints has been resolved by the health ministry or the past director of the laboratory.

“The appointment of Dr Hamilton to the post of director of laboratory services without the resolution of one of the several complaints has prompted the medical technologists to embark on protest action.

“The medical technologists are demanding that the MOH resolve the plethora of issues involving Dr Hamilton before consideration be given to her installation to the post of director of laboratory services,” the release read.

Medical technologists, also known as clinical laboratory technologists, perform and analyse the results of complex scientific tests on blood and bodily fluids. These highly trained professionals work in hospitals and independent laboratories using sophisticated procedures and equipment.