Winter ills, strike action hit hospital

Strike action and patients with winter ills left Christchurch Hospital in gridlock on three days this week.

Interim general manager Ruth Barclay said the hospital was in gridlock at times on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The hospital had "very high volumes" of up to 560 patients in beds at the start of the week, but this had dropped to 490 by Thursday, she said. The average number of patients was about 520.

"The increase in patients is largely due to winter illness," she said. "Flow through the hospital has also been restricted by ongoing industrial action by medical radiation technologists."

Radiographers went on strike around the country at the start of the month.

Barclay said the strikes were causing delays for orthopaedic outpatients and the emergency department and meant about 10 patients a day had to be referred to private radiology.

From next Thursday until the following Wednesday, some patients would be going to private radiology providers for CT scans.

Industrial action by members of the Medical Laboratory Workers' Union was also having an effect.

Canterbury Health Laboratories general manager Trevor English said half of the laboratory scientific staff – about 100 people – were on strike.

"It's really starting to impact our turnaround times. It's an unfortunate time of year, because the hospital is incredibly busy," he said.

The action was damaging the relationship between staff, as others were having to pick up the work, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News