Eighteen elective surgeries have been postponed at Whangārei Hospital due to a 24-hour strike by anaesthetic technicians in protest over better pay and working conditions.
About 21 anaesthetic technicians and three trainees joined more than 200 colleagues from across New Zealand from 7am today in the industrial action that ends at 7am tomorrow in an effort to receive a fair offer from Health New Zealand.
They will stay away from work during the industrial action. The only exception will be during emergencies.
They are members of the Association of Professional and Executive Employees (Apex) working in hospitals at Waitemata, North Shore, Whangārei, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Wellington, Hutt, Kenepuru, Rotorua, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hawke's Bay, Southland, Nelson, Palmerston North, Waikato and Taranaki.
General manager surgical and support services at Health NZ in Northland Mark McGinley said his staff would endeavour to reschedule the 18 postponed elective surgeries within the next one or two weeks.