Proposed MIT Industrial Action - Eastern BOP 24 Oct 2019

This is an update you on the proposed industrial action being undertaken by those Bay of Plenty MIT staff who are members of APEX.

This is an update you on the proposed industrial action being undertaken by those Bay of Plenty MIT staff who are members of APEX.

The Medical Imaging Technicians (MIT) are carrying out both partial and full withdrawal of labour, from 29 October to 2 November than again from 4 November to 5 November.

Among the partial strike periods the MIT will not be performing imaging of GP referred patients to Whakatāne Hospital. This means that, Whakatāne Hospital cannot accept any GP referrals for imaging on:

• Tuesday 29 October, from 0700 hours to 0700 hours Wednesday 30 October,
• Thursday 31 October, from 0700 hours to 0700 hours Friday 1 November, and
• Monday 4 November, from 0700 hours to 0700 hours Tuesday 5 November.
  
  

However, the BOPDHB will fund urgent GP imaging requests referred to East Bay Radiology, albeit, there is very limited access.

• 29 October, a maximum of six patients between 1300 – 1600
• 31 October, one patient between 1200 – 1230 hours
• 4 November, two patients between 1130 – 1230 hours.
  
  

Once these available East Bay Radiology appointments are full, we are asking that you refer patients requiring urgent imaging to Whakatāne’s ED for assessment, after which a referral to the DHB Radiology service will be made as required, by the ED team.

You may also consider asking patients if they have health insurance cover, or are able to pay for their X-ray.

We appreciate your co-operation through these proposed periods of industrial action.

Whakatāne Hospital Radiology Services will be offering normal ultrasound services during the partial MIT Strike period; however there will be life preserving service (LPS) only access to CT scan services from 1800-0659, and LPS access only to general X-ray from 2300-0659 on 29 October.

As you know you can call directly into the hospital.  These calls will go to the switchboard, and the operator will forward you to the person you request. The phone number for Whakatāne is:

Whakatāne        07 306 6777

Please, during this period refer only patients who clearly demand immediate hospital intervention or treatment.

We respect the right of staff to strike hence the importance we put on contingency planning to ensure the safety of patients, visitors and staff. 

If you have any particular concerns please don’t hesitate to contact Contingency Planning Lead Dot McKeown any time, via email dorothy.mckeown@bopdhb.govt.nz or phone 027 836 1896. Thank you for your cooperation.