DHBs cope well with strike - remain committed to good faith

Hospitals are coping well with the Resident Doctors’ Association 48-hour strike, which ends at 7am tomorrow.
DHBs’ spokesman Dr Peter Bramley says contingency plans have worked well to ensure emergency and acute services and to minimise the impact on patient services.

“We are grateful to all our staff working to ensure patient safety is maintained.

“DHBs will be in mediation with the RDA again on Monday and will be negotiating in good faith. Our overarching objectives remain the same – quality patient care that provides meaningful training in a safe working environment.

“We look forward to making progress next week on the issues DHBs have with the existing rostering system and the need for decision making at a local DHB level.

“Our proposal does involve the RDA giving up the ability to veto rosters and training arrangements agreed at a DHB level. We believe there are options that support better care and safe working as in our agreement with the other RMO union, Specialty Trainees of New Zealand, SToNZ.

“DHBs will continue to engage in good faith and try to find a way through this,” says Dr Bramley.

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