Hawke’s Bay DHB preparing for strike
New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants have voted to strike, significantly
impacting services at Hawke’s Bay and Wairoa hospitals and Napier and Central Hawke’s Bay’s medical centres.
Hawke’s Bay, like all other health boards, is actioning contingency plans for the strike from 7am Thursday 12 July until
7am Friday 13 July, to ensure quality and safety of patient care and to minimise disruption wherever possible.
Non-urgent patient appointments and elective surgeries will be rescheduled during this time as a result of the NZNO
strike action.
Patients whose appointments and procedures are being postponed will be contacted directly by phone by Hawke’s Bay DHB
staff.
During the strike, Hawke’s Bay Hospital will continue to provide essential and urgent services including emergency
departments, acute surgery, intensive care, cancer treatments, maternity services and acute wards at reduced capacity.
Wairoa Hospital will provide ED services for essential and urgent cases.
Central Hawke’s Bay Health Centre inpatient ward will be closed.
General practices and most other health services across the region will not be directly affected by the strike action.
In case of emergencies, patients should go to the Emergency Department. Where possible, however, they should contact
their general practice or urgent doctors for non-emergencies. Healthline – 0800-611 116 – continues to be available for
medical advice, and 111 for emergencies.
Chief executive Kevin Snee thanked staff, the contingency planning team, general practice and other health providers for
the support they were offering the DHB at his time.
“We apologise to our patients whose operation or appointment will have to be deferred and we will rebook them as soon as
we can,” he said.
If patients haven’t heard from one of our team they can call 0800 248 794 for more information or help.
More information can be found www.ourhealthhb.nz
-ENDS-