Emergencies overrule health strike

Christchurch Hospital had to make several life-preserving requests to the striking radiographers' union yesterday.

The radiographers were on a 24-hour strike, due to end at 8am today. The action is to be repeated tomorrow.

At Dunedin Hospital, radiographers were called in five times yesterday under the agreement to deal with emergencies.

Both hospitals had to make dozens of life-preserving requests during a similar three-day strike last week.

Other district health board areas affected by strikes, including Hutt, Lakes (Rotorua and Taupo), Southland and Bay of Plenty, said it appeared people were making efforts to stay away from hospitals if the treatment they needed was not urgent.

Southland board spokeswoman Megan Grindlay said Queenstown's Lakes District Hospital was lucky because bad weather kept skiers and snowboarders at home.

Radiographers employed by the six district health boards are taking their action because they want pay parity with the 14 other health boards.

Deborah Powell, secretary of the radiographers' union, Apex, said the boards were refusing to meet the union to negotiate.

But boards spokesman Dwayne Crombie said they would not negotiate during strike action.

- NZPA