Hospitals 'coping with doctors' strike'

District Health Boards today reported a relatively calm night at hospitals around the country in the face of the nationwide strike by junior doctors.

Officials said contingency plans put in place to deal with the strike action worked well with only a fraction of the usual number of patients turning up at hospital emergency departments.

Saturday is usually the busiest night of the week for hospital staff.

"Members of the public are heeding advice to put off visits until after the strike or see their GP if they have a problem," a spokesman said.

Around 2500 junior doctors are on strike until Tuesday after contract talks between themselves and DHBs broke down on Thursday.

The two sides in the strike remain stalemated, unable to agree even on how they might proceed with negotiations.

The DHBs say they are waiting for doctors to respond to their invitation to resume those negotiations.

But union representative, Deborah Powell, says that is categorically untrue and the doctors are ready to return to talks anytime.

Meanwhile, DHB lead negotiator Nigel Murray said today he and other senior negotiators would meet DHB chief executives in Wellington tonight to try and find a way forward.

"Very soon this strike is going to be over and we all need to get back around the table," he told National Radio.

"I have heard threats of more industrial action and I have to say that is particularly unhelpful."

He said the meeting would go through the night if necessary.





- NZPA