Southern DHB preparing for nurses and midwives strike action

Southern DHB is preparing for the industrial action by nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants planned for Thursday 19 August.

Nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants who are members of the NZNO are planning to strike for eight hours on Thursday 19 August from 11am until 7pm, and hospital midwives who are members of the MERAS are planning to strike for twelve hours from 8am until 8pm. The strikes will involve a complete withdrawal of labour by the union members.

Although nursing, midwife and healthcare assistant staffing levels will be significantly reduced during the strike, Southern DHB will have contingency plans in place to maintain essential and emergency care during this period.

“We will be doing our utmost to ensure patient safety leading up to and throughout this period,” says Executive Director Specialist Services, Patrick Ng.

As part of our contingency planning for the strikes there will be changes to services to reduce the pressure on the hospital. Some patients who have surgeries, procedures or outpatient appointments booked leading up to and during to the strike action will be contacted by Southern DHB staff to reschedule their appointments. Patients are asked to attend their scheduled appointments unless they are contacted by Southern DHB to reschedule.

For expectant mothers, the DHB will provide all acute and urgent care during the strike, but elective procedures and maternity unit appointments scheduled for the strike day will be postponed and those women will be contacted directly.

Emergency departments (ED) will stay open but care will have to be prioritised for emergency and urgent cases.

“We want to remind the public that they should seek medical treatment or go to ED if the matter is urgent as they normally would. They can call 111 for emergencies,” says Southern DHB Lead Contingency Planner, Megan Boivin.

“For non-urgent inquiries, patients should seek advice from their pharmacist, GP, urgent doctor (03 479 2900 in Dunedin) or call Healthline (0800 611 116).

Patients could face a very long wait in ED if they have been assessed as not needing urgent or emergency care.”

The DHB will be reaching out to the families and whānau of inpatients during the strike to help with basic, non-clinical needs, such as assisting with meals. Visiting times will not be observed so families and whānau can help.

“We welcome any assistance however little it is from families and whānau,” says Ms Boivin.

 Key information

• Nursing, midwife and healthcare assistant staffing levels will be significantly reduced during the strike 
• The NZNO strike will impact 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 are employed by SDHB
• Hospitals will remain open during the strike and will continue to provide essential and urgent services including emergency departments, acute surgery, intensive care, maternity services, renal dialysis, and wards, at reduced capacity  
• 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 Southern DHB staff 
• The MERAS nationwide strike action includes some midwives employed by the Southern DHB, but doesn’t include other Lead Maternity Carers, such as community LMC midwives, who will continue to provide care and carry out duties as usual
• Midwives who are members of MERAS are employed by the Southern DHB at Dunedin, Southland and Lakes District Hospitals and Central Otago Maternity Unit
• For expectant mothers, the DHB will provide all acute and urgent care during the strike, but elective procedures and maternity unit appointments scheduled for the strike day will be postponed and those women will be contacted directly
• Expectant mothers who are concerned about how the two strikes could affect their care should contact their lead maternity carer (LMC) (midwife or obstetrician) or their GP. If they are in labour, they should contact your LMC or follow the advice they have been given
• Unless expectant mothers have been contacted and told otherwise, they should attend any regularly scheduled appointment, treatment or clinic
• Expectant mothers in labour during the strike should contact their LMC or follow advice that has already been provided. As always, in an emergency call 111 
• 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 
• For non-urgent inquiries, patients should seek advice from their pharmacist, general practice, urgent doctors (03 479 2900 in Dunedin) or call Healthline (0800 611 116)  
• Rural hospitals in Gore, Balclutha, Oamaru, Ranfurly, and Clyde, as well as general practices and most other health services across the district, are not directly affected by the strike action.