More than 36,000 Health New Zealand nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants will walk off the job tomorrow in a nationwide 24-hour strike.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) said eleventh-hour mediation with Health NZ yesterday produced no new offer to present to members.
Christchurch staff will picket opposite the hospital from 9AM, if it’s dry and Health NZ’s corporate office, if it’s wet, until other campuses arrive then march to the Bridge of Remembrance.
NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter said, “Disappointingly, Te Whatu Ora refused to meet our urgent claim to recruit into roles identified as being necessary for safe staffing.
“NZNO has raised concerns about chronic and ongoing staff shortages continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process which began last September.”
Goulter said members were united and prepared for continued action.
“This strike is just the beginning. At their request, members at Auckland City Hospital’s Cardiothoracic and Vascular Intensive Care Unit and Whangārei Base Hospital’s Ward 4 are balloting on a week-long redeployment strike next month. In Christchurch, also at their request, members are balloting on a two-hour full strike for workers in Theatre, Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit and Radiology at Christchurch Hospital.
“If Te Whatu Ora is committed to safe staffing, as it claims, it will ensure patients can get the care they need by ensuring there are enough nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and kaimahi hauora.
“If Te Whatu Ora truly values nurses, as it claims, it will ensure they are not under-staffed, under-resourced and overworked.”
Health New Zealand Acting Chief Clinical Officer Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard said hospitals would remain open and safe care would be provided, but urged the public to help reduce pressure on emergency departments.
“Nurses who are members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation are striking for 24 hours from 9am tomorrow,” she said.
“During the strike we are encouraging people requiring non-emergency care to contact their GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 in the first instance, as we need to keep EDs for emergencies only.
“Our hospitals are always busy at this time of the year managing increased demand due to winter illness and we plan for this. The strike will put extra pressure on our teams and facilities.”
She said patients presenting to EDs would be prioritised by clinical need and warned non-urgent cases could face significant delays.
“To maintain patient safety most clinics will be closed. However, if you have a hospital appointment tomorrow, please come to your appointment unless we have contacted you directly to reschedule.
“It is estimated that 4,300 planned procedures and specialist appointments will have to be postponed due to the strike action, causing further harm to patients waiting a long time for treatment, and will set back our work to provide New Zealanders with faster access to care.”
She said Health NZ was committed to safe staffing.
“For us, safe staffing in a busy hospital environment includes the skills mix of the staff, the way care is provided, strong clinical judgement, flexibility and thoughtful decision making from our experienced leaders on the frontline.”
“We believe the offer we have made to the union is a fair one and we encourage the union to focus its efforts on bargaining so we can resolve the outstanding issues.”
