KEY POINTS:
Existing staff at Auckland's hospitals are struggling with increased workloads due to a lack of junior doctors.
Waitemata, Auckland and Counties Manukau District Health Boards are proposing to reduce the listed number of junior doctor positions at hospitals by 10 to 20 per cent, because there is no one to fill them. They need to recruit 500 resident medical officers to achieve full staffing levels.
Spokesman Pat Alley says up to 30 positions have been vacant for over two years. He says if the jobs were disestablished for now, there is always the chance the positions could be re-advertised again at a later date.
Dr Alley says the proposal, is being considered by the DHBs' clinical directors.
- NEWSTALK ZB
