KEY POINTS:
District health boards and the union representing striking radiation therapists return to the negotiating table today in an attempt to settle their pay dispute.
Murray Georgel, chief executive of MidCentral District Health Board and spokesman for the DHBs, said the parties were meeting in Auckland at midday and, until the meeting took place, he would not be commenting further.
One-day strikes in Auckland and Wellington yesterday saw the treatment of about 300 cancer patients put off. Further one-day strikes at both oncology centres were planned for Monday, and Auckland has another walkout on January 23.
Joanna Easingwood, manager of oncology, haematology and palliative care at Auckland City Hospital, said contingency plans worked well yesterday. Two acute patients were treated as part of life-preserving agreements, but no union members were called in.
Between 180 and 230 patients have had their treatment disrupted.
To reduce waiting times, the health board is offering up to 10 patients a week the opportunity to receive treatment in Australia. Thirty-six breast cancer patients have already had treatment overseas.
The hospital is also starting an evening shift next week to help clear the backlog, allowing for 30 more patients to receive treatment.
Canterbury District Health Board was yesterday working to slot back 25 patients who had their radiation treatment postponed because of the strike. They had been due to start radiation therapy when union members walked off the job on Tuesday. The 20 strikers return to work today.
Spokeswoman Michele Hider said the hospital still treated 75 cancer patients with the seven non-union staff working.
Industrial action, ranging from overtime bans to one-day strikes, has affected all six oncology centres since May.
The radiation therapists are seeking a 3 per cent pay rise this year and next, which they say would cost $150,000. The union says the boards have offered a 1.4 per cent rise to July and a 2.5 per cent increase to March 31 next year.
The health boards maintain that when their offer is added to increases over the past four years, total pay for radiation therapists will have gone up more than 30 per cent since 2001.
