Boards say doctors' hours not so hard

District health boards have released a new study which they say finds working hours for junior doctors in New Zealand compare favourably with much of the developed world.

But the timing of its release is likely to heighten tensions at the negotiating table when the Resident Doctors' Association, which represents 2400 junior doctors, and boards head back into mediated talks tomorrow.

The report by Harvard University's Dr Christopher Landrigan, an expert on how sleep deprivation can increase medical mistakes, was commissioned by the health boards this year. He came to advise the boards on safe working hours in April when talks between the two parties were described as "extremely tense".

"What this research shows is that we are on the right track," said Dr Stephen Child, the director of clinical training at Auckland District Health Board and an adviser to the boards in the talks.

"It confirms that we are doing well and it points to the few exceptions where we can focus and do better.

"The current negotiations are not a dispute over hours, but rather how we can achieve these improvements - especially in the area of night work and long shifts.

"The Landrigan report provides an independent, international view of the working hours of junior doctors in New Zealand and it shows that our conditions are among the best in the world. It also points to areas where we can do more."

Accompanying the study and media release was a fact sheet that showed 77.8 per cent of junior doctors working 40 to 59 hours a week.

But Resident Doctors' Association general secretary Dr Deborah Powell said the calculation was based on salary scale and not actual hours worked.

"They're using misinformation to try and pretend that we don't have a problem here."

The health boards want union members to agree to a memorandum of understanding that will allow variations to their work conditions. Dr Powell said this would undermine the provisions contained in the doctors' collective agreement.

"Our [agreement] contains those provisions that have led the world - we don't anymore - but we have led the world.

"We're not prepared to accept something that will undermine those provisions."

Working hours

Dr Landrigan's comparison of junior doctor working hours worldwide:

* United States: A maximum of 80 hours per week, and up to 30 hours consecutively.

* Europe and Britain: Weekly limits vary from 48 to 58 hours. But by 2009, maximum will be 48 hours per week.

* Australia: No limits on hours worked.

* New Zealand: A maximum of 72 hours per week, but collective agreement states 60 hours is a "desirable goal".