23 October 2019

Whanganui District Health Board medical imaging technologists (MITs) will strike for 24 hours beginning 7am on Wednesday 30 October and 7am on Friday 1 November 2019 with a full withdrawal of services.

MITs will also undertake partial strikes for 24 hours beginning 7am on Tuesday 29 October, Thursday 31 October and Monday 4 November.

Partial strikes means there may be longer waits in the radiology department for x-rays and other services.

If you have been asked to get an x-ray from Whanganui Hospital’s medical imaging department, please do this before Monday 28 October (Labour Day) or after Monday 4 November, if possible.

People with appointments for computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appointments during the strikes have been notified and their appointments rescheduled.

The strike does not affect ultrasound services. If you have an ultrasound appointment, please turn up as scheduled.

During the strikes, ‘life and limb’ preserving services – which require medical imaging to prevent death or permanent injury - will continue to be provided by our emergency department.

‘Walk-in’ x-ray services in Waimarino and Taihape will continue as normal (Tuesdays and Thursdays) but there may be longer wait times than usual.  

Whanganui District Health Board regrets the inconvenience to the Whanganui community, but recognises the legal right of staff to strike, and appreciates the valuable work of our medical imaging technologists.

If you are unsure about how the strikes will affect you, please contact the radiography department on (06) 348 1308.