Strike affected patients more than ‘employment issue’

“When hundreds of patients suffer cancelled surgery, widespread strike action in the health sector is more than just an ‘employment issue’ that the Minister can duck,” says National’s Health spokesman Tony Ryall.

Strike action by radiographers is set to spread across seven district health boards from tomorrow, with action by lab workers set to resume on April 24.

“Pete Hodgson needs to be banging heads together to get this sorted. Instead, he's happy to have another year of industrial disruption.

“How long can he keep hiding behind the political firewall of the DHBs? It is well known that Mr Hodgson has told DHBs Labour has an appetite for industrial action this far out from an election.”

Mr Ryall says sick New Zealanders are paying for the strikes, with delays and further culling from waiting lists.

“A responsible Minister of Health wouldn’t be sitting in his Wellington office watching one strike follow another.

“And it’s not as if the radiographers’ claims are new. Hospitals were crippled in September and November last year. Doctors said at the time cancer sufferers were the ones likely to be most affected.”

But Mr Ryall notes that 80% of patients need to see a radiographer.

“So the impact will be felt well beyond cancer patients.”

Mr Ryall says during previous strikes sick patients faced inter-DHB transfers, elective surgery was axed, and radiographers were regularly called back to cover emergencies.

“Pete Hodgson can’t keep ducking while history repeats itself.”

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