Hauora Tairāwhiti has contacted patients to postpone many elective surgeries/ procedures and outpatient appointments in advance of the expected strike by New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) nurses, midwives and healthcare workers on Wednesday 9 June.
The strike involves a full withdrawal of labour and may include all staff who are NZNO members, says Hauora Tairāwhiti Director of Nursing Serita Karauria.
Patients whose surgeries/procedures or appointments are affected have been contacted by phone and/or letter to let them know their appointment is postponed. Where possible patients have been offered a new appointment. In most cases patients will be contacted a second time with a rescheduled appointment.
During the period of the strike, from 11am until 7pm on the 9 June, Gisborne Hospital will continue to provide essential and urgent services including emergency department, acute surgery, intensive care, maternity services, renal dialysis, patient retrievals, and acute wards at reduced capacity.
“Our priority is the health and safety of our patients - we have to reduce services to ensure that we are able to care for patients who require urgent and emergency care during the strike period,” says Ms Karauria
“I’d like to thank our all staff for their hard work in preparing for this strike and for ensuring that essential services continue to be available.”
Emergency services will be operating during the strike period and people should seek medical treatment or go to ED if the matter is urgent as they normally would. They can call 111 for emergencies.
We encourage the community to remember to keep ED free for emergencies. People requiring non-urgent healthcare should contact their medical centre or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Key information
- Non-urgent, planned surgeries/procedures and outpatient appointments will be postponed and rescheduled as a result of the strike action
- Patients whose surgeries and procedures are being postponed will be contacted directly by phone and/or letter by Hauora Tairāwhiti staff
- Gisborne Hospital will remain open during the strike and will continue to provide essential and urgent services
Clinical services that will remain open during the strike include:
- Emergency Department
- Paediatric inpatient ward
- Acute surgery
- ICU
- Adult inpatient services
- Acute mental health services
- Rehabilitation Unit
- Maternity
- Palliative care
- COVID-19 vaccination clinic
Clinical services that won’t be available include:
- Outpatient clinics
- Elective surgery
- Day procedures unit