KEY POINTS:
With the latest strike by junior doctors now behind them, District Health Boards (DHBs) will return their focus to getting a settlement in the ongoing dispute.
More than 2000 junior doctors returned to work today after a second 48 hour strike within a month.
Hospitals around the country reported no major difficulties over the last two days despite the staff shortages.
The junior doctors have been locked in a pay dispute with DHBs for months, with their union claiming a 10 per cent pay rise each year for the next three years.
The DHBs have offered 4.25 per cent increase for last year and this year.
Resident Doctors' Association national secretary Deborah Powell told NZPA today stop work meetings had been scheduled for the week starting May 26.
No plans had yet been made for the union and DHBs to meet again at the negotiating table.
DHBs spokesman David Meates said they were looking at where to go next.
"DHBs will be meeting in the next week in a variety of forums to discuss the approach to getting back into negotiations," he said.
"There will be a settlement, we do need to get a settlement. Now that we're through the strike the focus will now be on finding a way forward."
Mr Meates said despite a heavier demand than during the junior doctors' previous strike last month, the industrial action had not caused any major difficulties.
"The contingency planning in the hospitals worked well and there were no problems, thanks to a tremendous effort by senior doctors, nurses and all others," he said.
Dr Powell said timing was becoming an issue for the negotiating team as the junior doctors' multi-employer collective agreement (Meca) was due to expire at the end of June.
She said when the contract expired the DHBs could then offer any conditions of employment they chose.
"There's no longer the protections of the Meca," she said.
"Not only is that worrying for the residents, it could potentially be worrying for the patients as well because one of the unique things about our Meca is that it has a whole lot of health and safety provisions in it."
- NZPA
