Strike dents board goals

The strike by some 36 medical radiation technologists (MRTs) at Palmerston North Hospital will further dent MidCentral Health's ability to catch up on elective operations and procedures.

The District Health Board already trails the league table as the only board not achieving goals for electives set by the Health Ministry, and chief executive Murray Georgel said yesterday's industrial action would have a significant impact.

Operations, procedures, clinics and appointments that relied on backup from X-ray and medical imaging staff were postponed for hundreds of patients during the strike.

About four non-union staff remained on site to handle acute and urgent work, and there was a deal with the APEX union for members to respond to call-outs for any life and limb preserving emergencies.

The strike by most of MidCentral Health's 40 MRTs was part of a national protest about the break-down of pay talks with the district health boards across the country, with various conditions of employment remaining as unresolved issues between the parties.

MidCentral Health union delegate Peter Gene said the MRTs were disappointed the boards hadn't been able to come to an agreement that would have averted the strike last week, but had instead gone away to consult. The union was still waiting for a reply to its latest offer which it estimated would cost $200,000 across the country to settle.

Low-level industrial action would continue as staff returned to work today in the form of working to rule, which would continue to cause extra waits for some patients.

"We will be more than happy to get back to normal, but our members are pretty staunch about this at the moment," he said

- © Fairfax NZ News