Take emergencies elsewhere, hospitals say as strikes hit again

3.00pm

Three Auckland hospitals are warning the public to take their urgent medical problems elsewhere as they prepare for another two-day strike.

Radiographers belonging to the Apex union strike for 48 hours from 7am tomorrow at Auckland, Green Lane and Starship hospitals over a pay claim.

The hospitals have urged the public to go to their own doctor rather than hospitals emergency departments to relieve pressure on staff.

The three hospitals have cancelled non-urgent surgery.

Middlemore Hospital, which was not affected by the strike, had also cancelled some non-urgent surgery to assist acute patients during the strike, Auckland District Health Board chief operating officer Marek Stepniak said.

He said the hospitals coped well during a four-day strike earlier this month.

However, the potential for serious risk to patients from another strike should not be underestimated.

He said some radiographers would be working but the hospitals might not have the skills needed for some procedures and some patients might be transferred to other hospitals or other x-ray facilities.

He said hospitals coped during the last strike because Middlemore Hospital had helped with acute patients and the public had heeded advice to see their family doctor or accident and emergency centre rather than going to a hospital emergency department.

However, he warned the public to seek medical attention if they needed it or call an ambulance in an emergency.

He said the board was prepared to talk to the union any time over the dispute.

The union had also issued notice it would withdraw after-hours cover by cardiac and respiratory technologists and ECG technicians from November 26 to December 3 at Green Lane Hospital.

Auckland District Health Board (ADHB)'s refusal to meet Apex representatives for arbitration increased the likelihood of further industrial action, union spokeswoman Deborah Powell said today.

Apex repeated its request to ADHB go to arbitration, but has yet to receive a reply.

She said that if the board refused to budge on its offer of a 2 per cent rise, the industrial action would continue and "I expect it will escalate".

ADHB's reaction to the dispute "defied any common sense".

The board had spent more fighting the action than it would have spent in agreeing to the radiographers' pay demand, she said.

"From beginning to end the DHB has treated radiographers in a manner they feel is contemptuous of them, their skills, abilities and the crucial role they play in the health service."

- NZPA

Further reading
Feature: Our sick hospitals