Pharmacy Strike at Canterbury DHB: Frustrated Staff Strike for 4 Days
Pharmacy Staff (Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants) at Canterbury DHB are set to commence strike action for 4 days. The strike is an inevitable consequence of the failure by Canterbury DHB to make any offer in settlement for their collective agreement.
“Despite withdrawing a previous strike notice as a result of the March 15th Mosque Attack, and after the last meeting to negotiate the collective agreement on the 2nd May 2019, APEX Pharmacy members at Canterbury DHB are yet to be presented with a final offer” says Denise Tairua, Advocate for APEX – the union representing Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants.
Canterbury DHB has been facing continued recruitment and retention issues post Canterbury earthquakes.
“It is extremely disappointing that our members have not received an offer in writing. This untimeliness has contributed to and exacerbated the staffing issues faced by Canterbury DHB Pharmacy and has left our members feeling frustrated and undervalued” says Denise Tairua.
The pharmacy strike will comprise of a complete withdrawal of labour, commencing 0600 on Thursday 22nd August and ending at 0600 on Monday 26th August.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Denise Tairua
APEX Advocate
Phone: 021827579
ABOUT HOSPITAL PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS
Pharmacist The traditional role of a pharmacist is to compound and supply medications. This has evolved over time with pharmacists today having many different roles in the hospital setting such as a clinical pharmacist who works with patients & other healthcare professionals on the wards & in clinics, being a pharmacist-prescriber or working as a specialist pharmacist within a specialty such as oncology, cardiology, clinical trials or surgery. Pharmacists hold an overarching responsibility to ensure that a medication is appropriate and safe for a patient and are valued members of the multidisciplinary team. Pharmacists are also responsible for providing medicines information to patients as well as other health professionals.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy Technicians are essential members of the Pharmacy team whose duties include the processing of prescriptions, dispensing and compounding of medicines, imprest stock management, repacking bulk medicines and the monitoring and delivery of medication to hospital wards and departments. A hospital trained Pharmacy Technician may also work in a ward setting performing medicines reconciliation on admission and discharge.
Learn more about our Pharmacists & Pharmacy Techs division.