Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

One-day strike at emergency ward of New Caledonia’s main hospital

Posted at 05:32 on 13 November, 2012 UTC

There has been a one-day strike at the emergency ward of New Caledonia’s main hospital in protest at the lack of resources.

Noumea’s daily newspaper says the staff decided to go public after complaints to management and government had gone unheard for half a year.

They say there are inadequate facilities, making it necessary to treat patients in corridors which they say lowers the quality and dignity of the care.

The staff also deplore the inadequacy of the ambulance service, which they say forces caregivers to go to the patients.

There is also a call to hire more doctors and a guard to improve hospital safety.

The hospital’s leadership has acknowledged a staff shortage while the government has said structural changes are being planned to address emergency care in the region.