Radiographers strike off but surgery doubt in Whangarei

Elective surgery at Whangarei and Kaitaia Hospitals next week has been thrown into chaos - even though radiographers last night withdrew their notice of a five-day strike.
Heated wage talks yesterday saw a compromise reached - but that came too late to prevent hundreds of people across nine district health boards being told that their surgery had been cancelled.
Northland Health had yesterday been in the process of notifying 107 people that their operations such as knee replacements and hip operations would not go ahead.
A DHB spokeswoman said it would review what to do in terms of the letters sent out to Northlanders today.
The delay is yet another blow for waiting-list patients such as Whangarei's Alex Lever, who hasn't played a round of golf in three years since a dodgy knee put an end to his favourite pastime.
The 77-year-old retired farmer fears the confusion could push him further down the list. He's already been waiting a year.
Mr Lever suffers constant pain and is reliant on a walking stick.
A tax-payer his entire working life, he feels he has waited long enough for surgery.
"I could still walk around a year ago - now I have to take a stick if I want to walk any distance."
A knee replacement would allow him to play golf again and share in more activities with his grandchildren.
"I'm not happy waiting any longer than I have to. Old age is coming on and you don't have so long to go, you have to make the most of it."
Northland Health chief executive Karyn McPeake yesterday said as the threat of strike loomed over the hospitals, contingency plans had been prepared and were being put in place to protect the safety of patients.
The radiologists, represented by their union, Apex, had been pushing for pay rises, but recently had their pay packets docked after undertaking industrial action.
An Apex spokesman last night said the strike had been called off after agreements between both parties.
The accord meant scheduled court action against Apex before the Employment Relations Authority would now not proceed.
Apex national secretary Deborah Powell had said the union wanted a minimum starting salary of about $40,000 for new graduates and an increase for experienced staff. Graduates now start on $30,000 to $35,000.
A final settlement had not yet been agreed to, but a package that both parties were happy with had been negotiated.
* Long hours, low pay, radiographers say
If you've broken an arm or a leg over the past 17 years, you may have met Whangarei Hospital radiographer Jackie Clarke.
She is one of 16 Northland Health radiographers who was involved in next week's planned strike, which was withdrawn at the eleventh hour.
Nine district health boards - including the Northland DHB - would have been affected by the proposed strike, and hospitals had already begun postponing operations and outpatient services in preparation for the strike.
Radiographers' minimum salaries vary from $30,000 to $35,000 across the country's DHBs.
The union representing them - Apex - wants a minimum salary of about $40,000 and an increase for experienced staff.
Mrs Clarke has been a radiographer for the past 20 years - she has never been on strike.
But she said current pay rates did not recognise the radiographers' skill which was required by almost all hospital departments.
It was a demanding profession. Radiographers were "on call" every 10 days and were often called out up to three times a night when on call. They also worked every third weekend. "I have three children and if I didn't do on-call I wouldn't be able to pay for all their activities. I have very little money left over for myself."
Health boards were finding it difficult to recruit and retain radiographers because of low pay rates, she said.
"We have a second-year radiographer here now who is on the same hourly rate as her partner who is an electrical apprentice.
"She has a $20,000 student loan to pay off and his training costs are paid for."
Young radiographers were either moving overseas for work or not staying in the profession.
"If you had the choice of another profession you would probably think `why don't I do something else?'.
"We have to pull the pay scales up or we won't be able to attract people. In some parts of New Zealand it's getting very, very difficult to attract staff."
Every department in Whangarei Hospital uses the skills of the radiographers, including the emergency department, the operating theatre and GP referrals.
Eighty percent of patients required the services of the radiography department, Mrs Clarke said.