radiographers

Health sector industrial disputes need to be resolved by compulsory arbitration, as rolling strikes by radiographers are harming patients, Southern District Health Board Otago chief medical officer Richard Bunton says.

Recent industrial action by medical radiographers has helped to push waiting times for urgent CT scans in Otago out to 10 weeks.

The Southern District Health Board is working to manage the likely disruption from tomorrow's 24-hour radiographers' strike, diagnostic and support services Otago general manager Sonja Dillon says.

Radiographers around New Zealand have withdrawn notices of industrial action after agreeing to resume negotiations with district health boards (DHBs) later this month.

Some elective surgery at Auckland Hospital has been postponed while radiographers walk off the job for the next three days over a pay dispute.

Radiographers, who have been taking action at District Health Boards across the country since late February over a 3 percent pay claim, are planning further strike action with talks having reached a stalemate, their union says.