Dr Lynda Scott National Health Spokesperson

21 October 2002

Minister must act on Greenlane dispute

The Health Minister must act before patient safety is put at risk by industrial action at Auckland's Greenlane Hospital, says National's Health spokesperson, Dr Lynda Scott.

"The disruption by cardiac and respiratory technologists over a pay dispute obviously raises concerns about patient safety, and Annette King cannot afford to stick to her usual pattern of ignoring health strikes and allowing services to run down.

"This strike will push the waiting list for cardiac patients out even further with the cancellation of operations, so the Minister has to reassure people that all patient safety guidelines are being met.

"Added to all this are more signs of trouble with radiographers at Auckland, National Women's, Greenlane and Starship Children's Hospital talking of walking off the job next week.

"It's obvious that the Auckland DHB will struggle to increase its two percent pay offer to the Greenlane technologists. The Board is already saddled with a $70 million deficit and the Health Minister's clearly in no hurry to sort that out," says Dr Scott.

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