[Nurses on strike, waiting lists and waiting time at a regional hospital].
BACKGROUND
From 22 January to 6 March 2002, Norwegian hospitals were struck by the longest strike among nurses ever. The strike strategy was aimed at creating the least possible effect on patient treatment by mainly including nurses in administrative positions and in outpatient departments. However, several reports of increasing numbers of patients in line for treatment and of operations cancelled caused the minister of health to finally order the nurses back to work.


METHODS
To get a more comprehensive view on the effect of the strike, patients in line for treatment at St. Olavs Hospital, a large regional university hospital, were analysed for the months January and February.


RESULTS
Surprisingly, no major negative effects on the volume of treated patients and on the number of patients waiting for treatment were found. In fact, the total number of patients in line for treatment as well as the number of patients waiting more than 12 months were reduced during the strike. The mean waiting time for treatment was also reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
A limited strike may improve the selection of patients with high priority. Furthermore, the yearly summer vacation in hospitals, that also includes doctors, probably represents a larger health threat to patients than a limited and well planned strike among one single health profession.
Bratlid
Dag
D
Barneklinikken St. Olavs Hospital. dag.bratlid@medisin.ntnu.no
D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D013317:Strikes, Employee; D014850:Waiting Lists; D000078329:Workforce