Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

Dargaville Hospital will remain open during a nurses’ strike next week and outpatients should attend their appointments unless told otherwise, Health New Zealand says.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation members in Dargaville have planned a one-hour strike from 1pm next Thursday to highlight their fears about working in a hospital with no doctors after-hours.

Nurses have told RNZ they are terrified about what could happen when no doctor is present, and the number of staff taking sick leave has increased due to the added stress.

Health New Zealand director of operations for Te Tai Tokerau Alex Pimm said contingency plans were in place to ensure patient care would continue during the strike.

“We appreciate some people may be anxious about the strike and want to offer assurance that Dargaville Hospital will remain open,” he said.

The strike notice stated only the general ward and Timatanga Hou (detox unit) would be affected by the industrial action.

Pimm said Health NZ knew the workforce was under pressure and addressing that was a top priority.

Work was underway to address concerns raised by Dargaville staff and the NZNO, and a “very productive” meeting with health and safety representatives and NZNO representatives took place on Wednesday.

“Health NZ values the enormous contribution nurses and healthcare assistants make to the health system, and thanks them for the critical role they have in caring for the health needs of our whānau and communities,” Pimm said.

Dargaville Medical Centre, located on the hospital grounds, would be open as normal and was not affected by the strike.

According to the NZNO, Dargaville Hospital has about 20 full-time nurses and six part-timers, as well as healthcare assistants.