According to a report by the Nelson Hospital they observed a “quiet day and night” during a national radiographers’ strike which came to an end this morning.

Almost 800 medical radiation technologists from public hospitals started a strike for 24 hours yesterday after a breakdown in contract negotiations between their union, Apex, and district health boards.

Concerns were expressed by senior doctors before the strike that some patients would not receive sufficient treatment with radiographers on call for “life-and-limb-preserving” cases only.

Pat Davidsen, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board district manager for women, child and oral health, said that he was prevented from saying as to how many people in Nelson had been affected by the strike.

He said, “We'd like to thank the public for their co-operation and understanding. It's gone relatively well. Generally, things have been quiet in terms of medical investigations and the emergency department's having an average day. We've been very lucky.”

The radiographers who were not on strike were the ones at the Canterbury District Health Board who went off the hook following Saturday’s earthquake.