Health workers at Perth's major hospitals have begun rolling stoppages over a pay dispute with the state government.
The 12-hour stoppage at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital began at 6am and will result in the cancellation of elective surgery.
Diagnostic tests and treatments, as well as outpatient appointments, will be cancelled and re-scheduled.
Patient discharges are likely to be delayed.
Cancer and cardiology services will be affected, as will pharmacy, radiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, diet therapy, social work, pathology, nuclear medicine, medical physics, engineering, maintenance and medical records.
The Health Services Union of Western Australia says members also plan a 12-hour stoppage at Royal Perth Hospital on Thursday.
Stoppages at other hospitals are also being planned.
The union has rejected an inflation-capped wage rise offer that has reluctantly been accepted by other public servants including police and firefighters.
It argues that its members should get the same pay increases as doctors and nurses they work with and who have secured wage rises of up to 14 per cent over three years.
Share
