Hospital asks for day’s notice of strike action

Thursday 14th August 2008, 2:29PM BST.

Operations may need to be postponed. (0611251)

MORE operations at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital could be cancelled if another public service employees’ strike takes place.

Last month’s industrial action resulted in 15 not going ahead.

Health and Social Services is asking the union for at least 24 hours’ notice if action is to be taken again.

‘If a minimum of 24 hours’ notice of strike action was given, it would allow hospital and medical staff the time to prioritise the booked operations and to contact patients and defer their admission or operation before they were admitted, or, where appropriate, before they were given any pre-operative procedures and medication,’ said a spokesman.