4 September 2016

NZRDA Disappointed as DHBs try to Excuse the Inexcusable

The DHB response to the safer hours campaign has largely been one of diversions, as employers continue to try and excuse the inexcusable.

Mediation between the DHBs and NZRDA failed on Monday. “The DHBs offer failed to address the roster pattern where doctors are working 12 days in a row of up to 16 hours in a day, with only 2 days off before returning to work. Furthermore, their offer to reduce the number of consecutive nights from 7 to 4 over the next two years was contingent on the doctors forgoing a pay rise” says Dr Powell, National Secretary of NZRDA.

NZRDA did not release information around the DHBs offer being contingent on the doctors effectively having to pay to work safely earlier this week as we had understood the DHBs asked for more time to reconsider. However, after yesterday’s vitriolic press release from the DHBs attempting to blame the union for wanting safer rosters, we have been left with no choice but to disclose more fully what transpired.

There are currently 2 formulas for cost of living adjustments being offered by DHBs to health employees: 1%, 2% and a further 2% over three years, or 2% and 2% over two years. The employers suggested the first of these options to NZRDA back in January 2016.

“The DHBs offer to reduce the number of consecutive nights to 4 over the next two years was contingent on the doctors forgoing the first 1% cost of living adjustment to salaries,” says Dr Deborah Powell. “The DHBs position was an abdication of their responsibility to provide a safe workplace for the doctors and through them safer care for the patients. If we have to pay to work safely, what comes next? Having to bring our own soap to work to wash our hands?” said Dr Powell.

“The suggestion that NZRDA has a fixed position is also false other than our view that we wish these rosters to be made safer.” says Dr Powell. Over the 9 months of bargaining, NZRDA has repeatedly asked the employers to provide even a single alternative rostering pattern to what we have suggested but the DHBs have come up with nothing. NZRDA’s position has always been that if some other pattern that works is agreed, all well and good, but in the absence of something else, the rostering patterns we have successfully trialled and implemented in some areas of NZ, will be used.

“The ‘let’s just keep talking about it’ is no longer an option in our view” says Dr Powell. “We now know that these rosters are causing doctors to make clinical errors and put themselves, their patients and potentially members of the public at risk. It is unconscionable in our view to not have a definitive resolution to this situation.”

NZRDA is extremely disappointed that the DHBs continue to find excuses to do nothing. We respond as follows:

• This is an international problem: yes it is but why does that mean we shouldn’t have safe rosters here in NZ? Justifying unsafe rostering practices by referring to other countries doesn’t make unsafe rosters any more acceptable.

• This is a longstanding issue: yes it is but with increasing workload and demand we now know we are no longer safe working these patterns; it is time for change.

• The NZRDA is not accurately representing its members: NZRDA represents over 3000 doctors in NZ, through 13 elected members of a national executive and 75 hospital reps scattered through every public hospital in NZ, all of whom are in touch with what is happening every step of the way.

• That resident doctors are a workforce in training: as are many groups of health practitioners many of whom, like resident doctors, are pursuing post graduate qualifications. We doubt however that the DHBs are suggesting training is more important than safe doctors or the safety of patients and of course we need to remember, tired doctors don’t learn.

• That NZRDA is putting public confidence in the health sector at risk: actually we are trying to improve confidence in the public health service by making it safer. Pretending there is not a problem is no way to achieve quality improvement; it is simply a way to get sand in your face.

NZRDA is deeply concerned the DHBs are becoming increasingly aggressive towards the doctors as we try to implement change. Instead of blame and excuses, NZRDA implores the DHBs to focus on the issue at hand: the need to improve safety through better rostering practices.

“There are 144, out of around 400 rosters in NZ that have been identified as a risk. These rosters are the on duty, 24/7 rosters where doctors are caring for acutely unwell patients” says Dr Powell. “The DHBs need to stop making excuses and return to the table with a mandate to do whatever it takes to ensure safer rostering.”

ends

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