Agency staff cover Auckland Hospital strikers

By ANGELA GREGORY health reporter

Hospital aides have been hired to cover emergency treatment at Auckland hospitals after orderlies, food staff and home aides walked off the job last night.

About 230 workers called a two-day strike from midnight against an offer of a 2 per cent pay rise for each of two years.

Their union yesterday agreed that during the strike the Auckland District Health Board could hire hospital aides from nursing agencies in special cases so lives are not put at risk .

Service and Food Workers Union organiser Paul McFarland said the aides would be hired in the emergency surgical theatres and x-ray departments.

He said he was surprised at comments from the board in yesterday's Herald that it was under "strict instructions" from the Government to keep its overall cost rises to no more than 2 per cent.

"They have never said that in negotiations ... The board is trying to pass the buck to the Government. If it is true we should be targeting the Government."

Board chief operating officer Marek Stepniak said there had been a clear and public instruction that overall cost increases had to be kept within 2 per cent.



Twelve hospital aides a day will be employed to cover emergency treatment at Auckland, Green Lane, National Women's and the Starship hospitals.

Mr Stepniak said everything remained in place in preparation for the strike, and patient care and safety was a priority.

The board has cancelled elective or non-urgent surgery for about 80 patients at Auckland Hospital, but says it will be able to cope without doing so at Green Lane, National Women's and the Starship children's hospital.

Patients will be served boxed meals, and non-union staff will prepare food for those with special dietary needs.

Non-clinical management staff will fill in for orderlies in most parts of the hospitals.