Mistrust holds up deal at Timaru Hospital

Senior doctors mistrust Timaru Hospital management, delaying attempts to settle their contract dispute, a spokesman for the doctors said yesterday.

The doctors decided last week to accept the financial terms of the latest offer, but wanted changes to the wording relating to the independent review of staffing and working conditions, said Ian Powell, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.

"The cost of settlement is no longer an issue of dispute. However, there is an enormous level of distrust among senior doctors over the preparedness of management to honour the process for the independent review of working conditions that forms part of the proposal," he said.

"The association did recommend that senior doctors accept the last offer, but I think we seriously underestimated the amount of mistrust the doctors felt.

"The level of total mistrust ... is made more difficult every time a senior manager or the board chairperson opens their mouth."

South Canterbury District Health Board chief executive Craig Climo said he was surprised at the tone of Mr Powell's comments and the need for a statement at this stage.

"There has been no contention. The wording for the review was essentially the ASMS'. We were aware that the senior doctors may want to suggest changes to it and we were quietly waiting for that," Mr Climo said.

"There should be no doubt that a review will be undertaken. We will also make public the report and any action to be taken."

Board chairman Joe Butterfield was disappointed Mr Powell had chosen to make some of his comments when negotiations were not complete.

"We want to see the review take place as soon as possible."

- NZPA