Cancer treatment on hold as radiation therapists walk off job

More than 300 cancer patients will have their treatment put off as the country's radiation therapists go on the first of a series of strikes today.

The 250 therapists, members of the Association of Professional and Executive Employees (Apex), will walk off at 7.30am today until noon Sunday.

There will be another 2 1/2-day strike starting an hour after the first one ends.

Hospitals under all six district health boards that employ radiation therapists, including those in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, will be affected.

A total of 330 patients will have their treatment deferred, although another 164 people assessed as needing "life-preserving services" will get their scheduled treatments.

Prostate Cancer Foundation president Barry Young is horrified at the prospect of patients facing another disruption.

"There must be a better way of handling this.

"When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer I was a good candidate for successful radiation treatment. At that time the radiologists were also on-again, off-again. Because of the uncertainty of proper treatment I opted for surgery. This was eight years ago. Has no one learnt anything?

"The radiologists and their employers say they have the interests of the patients at heart. I find it increasingly difficult to believe. Any individual or organisation that deliberately uses the withholding of treatment as a means of flexing industrial muscle can only lose the respect of those whose very lives are at stake."

There was "wonderful" work being done by those involved in treatment.

Breast Cancer Advocacy Coalition chairwoman Libby Burgess echoed the concern breast cancer patients would be feeling.

"You'd worry that your outcome isn't going to be as good as it might have been [without the disruption]."

Murray Georgel, a spokesman for the boards, said: "Ideally we would like all of the patients to be receiving treatment. But under the circumstances, there is provision to ensure that life preserving services are provided."

Patients who have their treatment deferred will be given "catch-up treatment" as soon as possible. This could mean some would be getting treated twice in one day, he said.

The therapists walked off the job for 14 hours last month after their claim for a 5 per cent cost-of-living rise was rejected.

Apex secretary Deborah Powell said the increase would help retain skilled staff and compensate for an increase in the cost of living.

The boards said the therapists were getting a pay rise as part of their 2002 package. Work conditions had improved, and there was no shortage of therapists at present.

STRIKE TIMES

* First notice: 7.30am today to 12 noon Sunday June 11.

* Second notice: 1pm Sunday to 7.30am next Wednesday June 14.

* Third notice: 5pm Wednesday June 14 to 7.30am Thursday June 15; 5pm Thursday June 15 to 7.30am Friday June 16; 5pm Friday June 16 to 7.30am Monday June 19.