DHBs support senior doctors role but can’t afford the bill

DHBs support leadership role for senior doctors but can’t afford the bill

District Health Boards say they strongly support senior medical staff taking a leadership role in New Zealand’s hospitals but can’t afford the average $50,000 salary rise that the senior doctors’ union – Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) - is asking to go with it.

“We don’t have cold feet about senior medical staff cooperating with us in the leadership of health services despite their union’s assertions in the media,” says District Health Boards NZ spokesperson Graham Dyer.

“We would prefer to have a health service in which our clinicians are more involved in decision-making. Unfortunately, in today’s tight fiscal times we would struggle to afford the salary increase that the senior doctors’ union is requiring as a requisite – more than 20 per cent over the next three years, an average $50,000 per fulltime specialist.

“If the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists could separate the leadership they are offering from the significant increases they are asking, then we would all be in a better situation.

“It is the District Health Boards’ belief that, if all sectors of the health service take mutual ownership of problems and adopt a problem-solving attitude, then the way is open for developing solutions for a world-class 21st Century health service.

“If we all work together, then we can create a stable health service that the public can feel confident will always be there when they need it.”

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