Strike action over - for now

Nelson Hospital reported a "quiet day and night" during a national radiographers' strike that ended this morning.

About 800 medical radiation technologists in public hospitals walked off the job for 24 hours yesterday, following a breakdown in contract negotiations between their union, Apex, and district health boards.

Senior doctors expressed concerns ahead of the strike that some patients would not receive adequate treatment, with radiographers on call for "life- and limb-preserving" situations only.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board district manager for women, child and oral health, Pat Davidsen, said he was prevented from saying how many people in Nelson had been affected by the strike.

All he could say was that 56 people had been seen at the hospital's emergency department yesterday, of whom 15 were considered acute.

Nelson Hospital was currently 79 per cent occupied, but he could not reveal numbers affected by the strike because the industrial action was sensitive.

"We'd like to thank the public for their co-operation and understanding," Mr Davidsen said.

Capital&Coast District Health Board's clinical director of radiology and laboratory services, Peter Hicks, said a quiet day at Wellington Hospital meant staff coped better than expected.

"It's gone relatively well. Generally, things have been quiet in terms of medical investigations and the emergency department's having an average day.

"We've been very lucky."

The 24-hour strike was an escalation of months of industrial action, with many radiographers already unavailable outside normal working hours.

The only radiographers not striking were those at the Canterbury District Health Board, who pulled out after Saturday's earthquake.

Radiographers have turned down a non-backdated increase of 1 per cent, with another 1 per cent later this year. They are asking for backdated pay as well as time in lieu for days spent on professional development courses.

Apex spokeswoman Bernadette Gourley said the union did not hear anything from district health boards during the strike. Low-level industrial action – mostly working to rule – would continue for the next two weeks while members discussed what steps they would take next, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News