Northland Health has cancelled operations in expectation of a strike by nurses next month.
Nurses under five North Island district health boards - Northland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Waikato - are set to strike over pay and conditions.
However, the Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has deferred industrial action by one week to enable members to consider a new offer made yesterday.
The nurses and midwives have voted to strike to back demands by the NZNO for pay parity with their Auckland colleagues, whom they say are paid 10-12 per cent more.
In Northland, contingency planning is continuing against two possible strikes by nurses, despite a union deal to cancel a 24-hour stop-work on June 4.
The NZNO has agreed to abandon the first of three threatened strikes as a gesture of "good faith" to allow mediated talks to continue.
Notices remain for an eight-hour strike on June 10, and a 16-hour stop-work two days after that if no settlement is reached this week.
Earlier, Northland Health said it was planning to cancel non-urgent surgery and close all but essential services during the threatened strike. However, it is understood some patients waiting for surgery were told last week their operations were not going ahead.
Northland Health acting general manager Sue Wyeth said Northland Health surgery would remain limited to emergency and day surgery until the industrial situation cleared.
"It takes a lead-in period of at least two weeks to reduce the inpatient numbers to a level considered manageable should nurses strike action go ahead," she said.
"Northland Health regrets the inconvenience and recognises the stress it is placing on families in Northland."
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
Northland surgery off as nurse strike action looms
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