Hauora Tairāwhiti is now in the recovery phase as a result of the Junior Doctors’ strike which took place a month ago.
Hauora Tairāwhiti had to cancel 307 outpatient clinics, 25 surgery appointments and 18 endoscopy procedures to ensure acute care took priority.
Jim Green, Hauora Tairāwhiti Chief Executive said “outpatient clinic appointments which were deferred as a result of the strike have all been re-booked and the backlog will be cleared by the end of June.”
“Our Theatre team have been working hard to reschedule the surgeries and procedures deferred as best as they can.”
“We acknowledge that our response to the strike has had an impact on the people in our care and their whānau. Hauora Tairāwhiti’s Senior Medical Officers, Clinical and Clerical staff are working exceptionally hard to minimise this impact.”
“At the same time we are sad to have to report one of our long-standing visiting Urology Surgeons, Mr John Boulton, has passed away unexpectedly. Again, our staff are doing their best to minimise the disruption to this service.”
“We are grateful for the patience of the people in our care, their whānau and the wider community. We apologise if people have had disruptions but would like to assure the public we are doing everything we can to lessen the impact of the recent events.”