Patients 'at risk' in strike

Patients could die as a result of strikes under way and planned for next week by hospital staff, Auckland's chief medical officer of health is warning.

Radiographers are midway through a three-day strike at Auckland city and Starship children's hospitals today and on Tuesday the strike goes nationwide for 24 hours.

Medical laboratory staff are due to strike on Friday at the three Auckland district health boards and the following Monday and Tuesday in Canterbury.

Auckland District Health Board's chief medical officer, Margaret Wilsher, said all her hospitals' elective surgery was being cancelled next week, affecting hundreds of patients.

There would still be about 160 adult patients coming into accident and emergency each day, with 75 per cent needing radiography imaging.

Asked if there could be deaths as a result of the strikes, Dr Wilsher said: "Regrettably yes."

She said that though union members still provided services for any immediate risk to life, there were patients who needed radiography or lab tests in a timely fashion, and delay could have deadly consequences.

"For instance, we know that if you have coronary artery disease, an operation is better sooner than later. We have 20 patients in hospital now with coronary artery disease. We are crossing our fingers that those patients remain safe."

Bernadette Gourley, the spokeswoman for the Apex union representing radiographers, said Dr Wilsher's remarks were inappropriate.

"I think it is a statement that is frightening and that will provoke emotions in the public. It is intended to shock, but it isn't a statement that we would necessarily accept as being what the situation is."

She said it was up to hospitals to decide when to call striking radiographers in.

She said the union had been negotiating wage claims for more than a year and the strike was not taken lightly by the radiographers but they felt they had explored all other avenues.

- © Fairfax NZ News