Patient safety concerns regarding health strikes
New Zealand is facing several health strikes which will put patient safety at risk but the Health Minister is not
prepared to do anything about it, says National Health Spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott.
Radiographers are striking at Central Auckland hospitals for two days from tomorrow, Timaru senior doctors are planning
strike action and Counties-Manukau radiographers are yet to agree on pay negotiations.
“Health boards are in this situation because they are under incredible pressure to bring down their large deficits.
“Radiographers are not prepared to pay the price for that, particularly when Auckland District Health Board has paid out
large sums in redundancies in the last year.
“Patient safety is being put at risk. Patients are caught in the middle and they are paying the price for absolute
mismanagement by the Health Minister,” says Dr Scott.