Deadline to prevent doctors' strike too tight, say bosses

1.00pm

The country's 21 district health boards (DHBs) say they will face the almost impossible task of producing an offer in one week to stop a strike by 2000 trainee doctors.

The doctors have threatened a six-day strike at public hospitals from November 2 -- the first time resident doctors will have gone on strike countrywide.

The strike would shut down all but emergency services.

The junior doctors, who earn about $70,000 a year on average, do not want more pay, but say they are unhappy with their conditions, claiming a 72-hour or more working week.

The two sides have been in talks since May, sometimes with a mediator, but have been unable to agree on the doctors' collective employment terms.

New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association spokeswoman Deborah Powell said today the DHBs could stop the strike if they came up with a deal in the next week.

But DHB spokeswoman Jean O'Callaghan, who is also CEO of Canterbury District Health Board, said the union had jumped the gun by threatening to strike if a deal was not struck.

The DHBs needed more time to co-ordinate an offer.

"There has been no clear claim that 21 DHBs, with 21 CEOs, can consider in a short time, can cost, and work out what that means," she told National Radio.

"While the doctors may say it's about reduced hours for the same pay, that could have huge implications for the sector."

Ms O'Callaghan said throwing more money at the problem and putting more trainee doctors on ward floors had not worked in the past.

"Over the last five years we have seen a 27 per cent increase in the number of trainee doctors, a 56 per cent increase in salary costs, and the problems the doctors complain about still exist -- there has to be a better way."

Ms Powell said resident doctors worked 12 days in a row and the association sought a reduction to 10. It also wants a shorter working week for the number of overnight shifts.

She said the claim had been on the table since May.

"We want to reduce our hours so we're not so tired, we can treat our patients properly and have a life outside the hospital as well," she said.

- NZPA