Action on industrial situation needed

15 August 2007

Action on industrial situation needed

The impasse between senior doctors and District Health Boards must be resolved quickly, says the New Zealand Medical Association.

While not directly involved in industrial negotiations, the NZMA is concerned at the extreme disruption to both the health sector and the medical workforce if the situation is not sorted out.

"It's time for the Minister of Health to increase his involvement and take decisive action," says NZMA Chairman Dr Peter Foley.

"Without a swift resolution, the ongoing industrial situation will cause major problems for both patients and the medical workforce - both current and future.

"The NZMA has long been calling for improvements to the medical workforce, which is already facing a crisis, and protracted industrial negotiations can only worsen that.

"The Government must take action urgently. The situation has obviously gone beyond what the DHBs can effectively deal with."

Dr Foley said the working environment in public hospitals was already difficult, and many staff were considering heading overseas where pay and conditions were often better.

"It doesn't make sense to put more pressure on our fragile workforce, and that is why we are calling on the Minister of Health to intervene," Dr Foley said.

"Senior hospital doctors are highly trained specialists and vital to our health system. New Zealand is competing in a global marketplace for medical professionals, and we need to ensure that we have a supportive working environment here."

ENDS

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