Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ) has condemned two days of nurses strikes this week, saying more than 13,000 planned procedures across the country will be postponed because of them.
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, the union that represents senior doctors, who are often doing the procedures, said it supported the nurses’ strike plans.
Today and Thursday, the days the strike will happen, are busy days for surgery and it is understood southern surgeons are concerned about the impact the strike will have on procedures, with some even being delayed for the third time.
Despite knowing the total number of affected procedures across the country, HNZ told the Otago Daily Times it could not say how many would be postponed in the South, and said the question would need to be lodged as a request under the Official Information Act, which the ODT has done.
Under the OIA, organisations can take up to 20 working days to answer questions.
Members and supporters of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) will congregate at the Tuhura Otago Museum reserve about 8am today.
It will be followed by the second strike on Thursday.
It is the second strike action in as many months, after more than 36,000 HNZ nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and kaimahi hauora went on strike on July 30.
HNZ put out a press release last week condemning the impact the strike would have on regular people and those waiting in surgery.
More than 2250 planned procedures, 3600 first specialist appointments and 8000 follow-up appointments would be postponed due to the strikes, a spokesman said.
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said HNZ’s bargaining process for doctors and nurses had been "shoddy".
"I think we would all be better off if they were a bit more honest about the daily and weekly impacts of the refusal to staff services properly."
It was "really a question of whether the government is willing to properly invest in our health workforce".
"It is very clear that what the nurses are saying is true.
"It’s absolutely unacceptable for New Zealand to have this sort of health crisis on their doorstep."
Figures recently released to the NZNO showed several wards in Dunedin Hospital last year were under-staffed more than 30% of the time.
Ms Daniels said she was nonetheless optimistic.
"Our nurses are very clear in their demands and their actions.
"We want real action from the government and [HNZ], not just promises on paper.
"Much of the staffing shortages could have been resolved yesterday."
By raising these issues they were putting the health of the people first.
"I see the strength of the nurses, and I know they’re doing the right thing."
