Hawke’s Bay DHB may have to activate its emergency plan if a nurses’ strike goes ahead while it deals with an increasing number of winter illnesses and influenza cases.
“The health system is likely to come under greater strain through the winter as the expected increase in acute activity occurs, with the added complexity of influenza and the threat of a nurses’ strike,” Chief Executive Kevin Snee said in a report.
We are likely to be on a major incident footing throughout July and August as a minimum. However, we have undertaken considerable planning to put ourselves in a good state of readiness,” he said.
It came as the hospital remained under financial pressure, with the DHB now forecasting a $3.1 million deficit for the financial year ending June 30, 2018.
It had previously been expected to make a $1.5 million.
-Anusha Bradley (Courtesy: www.rnz.co.nz)
