Hospitals coping as strike enters third day

Striking junior doctors today angrily denied being invited back by district health boards for further talks after the latest contract negotiations broke down yesterday afternoon.

Up to 2500 junior doctors walked off the job on Thursday morning for five days, protesting the lack of progress in negotiations over the long hours they work.

They were also unhappy at a proposal by the DHBs to set up a committee to make decisions about the doctors' workforce, its pay and conditions, saying it would undermine their contract.

Nigel Murray, lead negotiator for the DHBs, said yesterday that, following a review of its position, he had invited the doctors' union, the Resident Doctors Association back for further talks believing a settlement could be reached.

But RDA spokeswoman Deborah Powell said today that such offer had been made. "We've not even been contacted by them."

Meanwhile the DHBs said they were pleased with the way the public had adapted to the strike and hospitals were coping well.

National co-ordinator for contingency planning Anne Aitcheson said it appeared people had heeded advice to go to their GPS first with non-serious complaints.

Emergency departments overnight saw between 25 and 50 per cent of the usual number of patients.

- NZPA