INDEPENDENT NEWS

Some Elective Procedures And Appointments Postponed Due To 9 June NZNO Strike

Published: Fri 4 Jun 2021 03:37 PM
Nelson Marlborough Health (NMH) has contacted patients to postpone non-urgent elective surgeries, procedures and outpatient appointments in advance of the strike by New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) members on 9 June.
The strike is scheduled for 8 hours from 11am, by nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who are NZNO members. During that time, the following Nelson and Wairau hospital services will close:all elective services (non-urgent planned care)ward 9 at Nelson Hospitalpaediatric outreach clinicsany outpatient clinic that requires a nursedialysis clinics (patients’ appointments have been rescheduled)cardiology services (excluding urgent and emergency cardiology care)
During that time, Nelson and Wairau hospitals will continue to provide essential and urgent services including:
emergency departmentsacute services and assessmentintensive care and high-dependency unitsanaesthesiaradiologythe assessment, treatment and rehabilitation wardthe medical wardmost inpatient wards and servicesinter-hospital transfer service for acute patientsspecial care baby unitsmaternity unitsnew-born hearing serviceantenatal obstetric servicesdental servicesmental health servicesdistrict nursing services (may be reduced howeverpharmacy services
Pat Davidsen, GM Clinical Services, says that patients are being contacted directly to postpone and reschedule appointments.
“Patient safety is our top priority. We need to postpone elective appointments so that we can ensure we are adequately staffed to provide safe care for our long-stay patients, and for those who need urgent and emergency care.
“We apologise in advance for the disruption this may cause but this is a necessary measure to ensure that we can concentrate on continuing to provide safe care on the day of the strike,” Mr Davidsen says.
“We respect the right of our staff to choose whether to strike or not, and are trying to support each other. I’d like to thank those involved in preparing for this strike.”
Mr Davidsen urges people not to delay seeking medical treatment or going to hospital if they need urgent medical assistance on 9 June. People should still:dial 111 or come to the hospital for emergenciesvisit the Medical and Injury Centre in Nelson and Urgent Care Centre in Blenheim for after-hours carecontact their GP, local pharmacy or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for non-urgent needs
People are asked to save ED for emergencies – at all times of the year – but especially during a strike when there may be a longer wait in ED than usual for those people who present with non-urgent need.”

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