CDHB Managing Successfully In Spite Of Claims

CDHB Managing Successfully In Spite Of Counter Claims

In spite of the union NUPE’s claims that the CDHB is having difficulties managing without the 400 staff who are on strike, the Health Board reports that to date, staff are managing well with minimum disruptions.

‘NUPE’s claim that the lack of maintenance staff at some hospitals is causing problems is not correct,’ GM for Hospital & Specialist Service Jock Muir said. ‘All the sites have been checked and no problems have been reported.’

Mr Muir said the specific claim by NUPE about the boiler house at Christchurch Hospital was not true.

‘All the monitoring for the systems there is done electronically. There have been no reports of any issues this morning and usually if there is an issue we are contacted by Environment Canterbury. There has been no such contact.’

Mr Muir said the hospital services were continuing to manage with reduced staff in some areas but surgical services at Christchurch hospital hadn’t been affected and there have been no delays to surgery.

‘It isn’t an ideal situation, and we would prefer to sit down with the union and discuss what can be done to lift the strike. However they have told us they only meet at 4pm each day. We said yesterday we would meet at any time, and so far they have refused.’

Mr Muir said the claim by NUPE that the CDHB was using illegal tactics to ensure staff not involved in the strike continued to turn up for work was also incorrect.

‘It is CDHB practice to ask for a medical certificate from staff who are away sick for three days or more. And, we reserve the right to ask for a medical certificate at any time.’

ENDS

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