Christchurch Hospital clinical records staff to strike

Christchurch Hospital clinical records staff will begin limited strike action this Wednesday following a decision in September to axe 12 jobs from the 29-strong department.

National Union of Public Employees (Nupe) organiser Martin Cooney said the strike would consist of "a list of tasks" staff would refuse to perform.

The job cuts followed plans to introduce a system to allow clinicians to sign off lab results electronically.

But Nupe members say the changes have increased the workload of remaining staff, putting them under significant stress.

When Nupe first announced the possibility of strike action the hospital's acting general manager, Mary Gordon, said management had consulted staff extensively on the changes.