“Senior Doctors Can’t Guarantee Patient Safety; Urgent Government Action Needed”
“Senior doctors can’t guarantee patient safety in public hospitals if urgent government action is not taken to sort out the resident (junior) doctor shortage crisis that has led to a wave of strikes throughout the country,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

Mr Powell was reporting the unanimous assessment of the Association’s National Executive that met in Wellington today. Representatives attend from throughout the country. The shortage crisis was the major issue discussed.

“The work that resident doctors do at the frontline of medical care can’t be done by any one else as well and as safely. The work of senior doctors will also be severely compromised because they depend on the support of their resident doctor colleagues.”

“Senior doctors will not be able to fill the gaps and do the essential work of resident doctors. This means that public hospitals will become unsafe.”

“If there was ever a case for government intervention to ensure a workable solution it was now. No-one else can do it,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ends

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