Around 3000 New Zealand resident doctors are poised to continue with their 73-hour strike announced on Tuesday, January 17, 7 a.m. till 8 a.m. on Friday.
This is the second round of industrial action by the doctor’s union after the two-day strike earlier in October.
18 of the total 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) in New Zealand will be affected by this strike, with the Taranaki and West Coast DHBs staying away from the strike.
The strike is an outcome of several rounds of failed negotiations between the Resident Doctors' Association and DHBs over junior doctors’ demand about rosters and better pay.
The New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association and DHBs had been locked in talks since December 2015.
Lead chief executive for the DHBs, Julie Patterson, said more than 2200 patients would be affected by the strike.
The DHBs, including Auckland and Counties Manukau DHB, have placed contingency plans to ensure minimal disruption to routine health services.
However, there is an expectation that the strike will have an impact on some of the services at Auckland City Hospital, Starship and Greenlane Clinical Centre.
Rescheduling of elective surgeries and non-emergency services
DHBs are contacting some patients to reschedule appointments for elective surgeries and other non-emergency services. It is reported that all patients whose appointments have been rescheduled will be contacted.
So if a patient with an appointment had not been approached by Auckland and Counties Manukau DHB, then they should go to their scheduled appointment.
Emergency services to continue as normal
All patients who need immediate hospital-based attention will still receive the treatment they require. However, people with non-urgent injuries may experience a longer wait.