Cuts to surgery because of strike

Wairau and Nelson Hospitals have cut surgery for the next two weeks, in response to a medical radiation technologists' strike which starts today.

Technologists at Wairau Hospital, in Blenheim, will strike from 4.30pm to 8am every day, returning to normal hours at 8am on Monday, August 23.

Nelson Hospital will follow the same weekday strike times as Wairau Hospital, but an on-call service will operate at weekends from 9.30am to 5pm.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board district manager of clinical support James Bowyer said surgery scheduled for the next two weeks had been reprioritised, based on clinical need and whether radiology support would be required.

"As we must keep the use of radiology scans to a minimum, with no routine radiology after 4.30pm, we must reduce the number of people going to surgery," he said. Postponed surgery would be rescheduled.

The technologists' union, the Association of Professionals and Executive Employees (Apex), had agreed that where there was a danger of death or permanent disability, the technologists could be called.

Mr Bowyer expected increased hospital admissions during the strike, because diagnostic scans could not be performed overnight unless life-preserving services were required.

Patients referred for X-rays after 4pm by GPs or the emergency department would be asked to return the next day unless their condition was life-threatening.

Delays were likely, said Mr Bowyer.

The technologists carry out diagnosis using X-rays, CT scans and angiography.

Apex national secretary Deborah Powell said in The New Zealand Herald that the union had been bargaining for a national collective employment agreement with district health boards (DHBs) for about a year.

Funding for DHBs had increased by 3.2 per cent, but they were not prepared to pass that on to the workers, despite acknowledging productivity increases.

Rolling strike action by the technologists has affected Whakatane, Rotorua and Taupo hospitals.

Health and disability commissioner investigations have found peoples' lives were jeopardised during previous strikess.

- The Marlborough Express

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