Strike notice forces cancellation of elective surgery

2.00pm

Non-urgent surgery at four Auckland hospitals is likely to be put on hold because of a strike by radiation technologists later this month.

Auckland District Health Board said it had begun to cancel more than 1000 elective surgical cases and radiology procedures from October 29 to November 2.

It said the strike noticed issued by Apex, the union representing medical radiation technologists, would affect Auckland, Green Lane, National Women's and Starship Children's hospitals.

Board chief operating officer Marek Stepniak said the planned strike action would leave the hospitals without emergency medical services which could endanger lives.

"If the union does not provide staff for emergency cover we could be faced with the dire situation of having to close four Auckland central hospitals including the emergency departments to new admissions during the strike period," he said.

Cardiac and respiratory technologists and ECG technicians were also scheduled to strike for two weeks from Monday and Mr Stepniak said the board was staggered the union had yet to tell the board if emergency cover would be provided for that strike.

Apex representatives were not available today.

- NZPA