Today saw the cancellation of 240 elective surgeries, alongside the postponement of 1,000 outpatient clinic appointments. This disruption comes as over 3,000 doctors in New South Wales (NSW) continued their strike for a second day, advocating for better pay and working conditions. Although some union members had initially planned to strike further, they returned to work following health department concerns over patient safety.
Health Minister Ryan Park acknowledged that while the healthcare system is not functioning at its best, it continues to provide essential services. He confirmed that emergency departments and intensive care units have been staffed at public holiday levels during the strike, ensuring critical care is maintained. Paramedics have also remained operational, but non-urgent treatment wait times are anticipated to increase significantly.
The union representing the doctors, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF), is pushing for a pay increase aimed at achieving parity with other states, which could see salaries rise by up to 30%. In contrast, the state government’s current proposal offers a 10% pay increase.
As the strike nears its conclusion tomorrow, patients scheduled for elective surgery in the coming days are advised to verify the status of their procedures with their healthcare providers to avoid any further inconveniences.