The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) has begun contacting patients to postpone many elective surgeries and procedures and outpatient appointments in advance of the expected strike by New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) next Wednesday (June 9).

The strike will affect many health care services across the district, including Dunedin, Southland, Lakes District and Wakari Hospitals and all community based health services where NZNO nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants employed by SDHB are working.

“Patients whose surgeries/procedures or appointments are affected will be contacted by phone and/or letter to let them know their appointment is postponed,” Southern DHB executive director specialist services Patrick Ng said.

“Where possible patients will be offered a new appointment but in most cases patients will be contacted a second time with a rescheduled appointment.”

Although the majority of services affected are currently scheduled on June 9, some appointments and surgeries in the days leading up to that date may also be affected and those patients will be notified as well, Patrick said. 

During the period of the strike - from 11am until 7pm on June 9 - the region’s hospitals will continue to provide essential and urgent services including emergency departments, acute surgery, intensive care, maternity services, renal dialysis, patient retrievals, and acute wards at reduced capacity. 

Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown will provide ED services for essential and urgent cases.

Dunstan Hospital in Clyde, general practices and most other health services across the district are not directly affected by the strike action.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience that these postponements will invariably cause for patients and their whānau,” Patrick said. “Staff will rebook patients as quickly as possible, but this will take time.”

“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.”

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, and they can call 111 for emergencies.

For non-urgent inquiries, patients should contact their general practice, urgent doctors or call Healthline (0800 611 116).

PHOTO: Supplied