Radiographers strike goes nationwide tomorrow | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Striking radiographers returned to work in Auckland today after a three-day strike but will walk off the job again tomorrow to join a nationwide strike.

Christchurch radiographers have pulled out of tomorrow's national action following Saturday's devastating earthquake which sent hundreds of people to hospitals, mostly with minor injuries.

Auckland radiographers walked off on Friday after last-minute talks with district health boards failed to resolve a contracts dispute.

The strike which ended last night added hundreds of patients to the backlog of those already waiting for surgery and x-rays.

Auckland hospitals said they coped well after the radiographers' union, Apex, agreed to do life-preserving and limb-preserving work.

Auckland District Health Board spokesman Matthew Rogers said disruption was limited although elective surgery was cancelled at the Auckland City and Starship hospitals.

Chief medical officer Margaret Wilsher said the list of patients waiting for images and surgery was huge.

Bernadette Gourley, from Apex, said negotiations with the district health boards had failed to resolve the dispute leaving the union with no option but to press ahead with tomorrow's action.