Auckland Hospital puts surgery on hold

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

All operations, except emergencies, have been cancelled at Auckland Hospital for two days from midnight tonight, when more than 200 orderlies, food staff and home aides intend striking.

The strike comes at the worst time of year for the hospital, which was flat out yesterday trying to complete surgical procedures to reduce bed occupancy during its mid-winter peak.

Union members deny deliberately timing the strike to coincide with the election, but acknowledge it undermines Government efforts to assure voters it is doing all it can to fix a rundown public health service in a growing population centre.

About 230 workers in all four Auckland District Health Board hospitals are expected to strike for 48 hours against an offer of a 2 per cent pay rise for each of two years, after reconfirming their plans late yesterday.

The board has cancelled elective or non-urgent surgery for about 80 patients at Auckland Hospital, but says it will be able to cope without doing so at Green Lane, National Women's and Starship children's hospitals.

Patients will be served boxed meals, although the board says enough non-union staff will be available to prepare food for those with special dietary needs.

Non-clinical management staff will fill in for orderlies in most parts of the hospitals, but casual nurse-aides with support surgical experience will move patients about in operating theatres.

It is understood medical staff made it clear they did not want non-clinical people in the theatres, although union members believe the use of non-permanent staff may breach anti-strikebreaking provisions of the Employment Relations Act.

Service and Food Workers' Union organiser Paul McFarland questioned a patient safety assurance last night, saying the board should cancel elective surgery at the other three hospitals as well.

The difference between what the board was offering its lowest-paid workers, and a 3 per cent increase that union negotiators were prepared to recommend to them, would cost it just $65,000 a year, he said.

Board chief operating officer Marek Stepniak said it would do its utmost to ensure patient safety and was satisfied it could continue elective surgery at all hospitals except Auckland.

The board's large deficit put it under strict instructions from the Government to keep overall cost rises to no more than 2 per cent.

nzherald.co.nz/hospitals