Contingency plans in place for Bay doctors' strike

Since notice of the two-day doctors' strike was given last week a contingency plan has been underway.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board staff have been making arrangements for the 48-hour strike, which would start on Tuesday October 18 at 7am and end at 7am on Thursday October 20.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board's medical director Dr Hugh Lees said the planning has been focused on how Tauranga and Whakatane Hospitals would manage without the striking junior doctors.

They aimed to reduce the impact on services for patients, allowing clinical staff to focus on patients in most need.

"We will be rescheduling some elective surgery and some Outpatient Department appointments.

"If anyone has surgery or an Outpatient Department appointment booked on 18 or 19 October, in either Tauranga or Whakatane Hospital, they will be contacted by hospital staff to inform them of the status of their appointment or surgery."

Dr Lees said if patients were unsure about their appointment or surgery to phone 0800 333 477 between 8am and 4.30pm, to check their details.

He also reminded people that the hospital's emergency departments are for emergencies so for people to go to their GP or to one of the after hours clinics. Also people seeking medical advice can ring the HealthLine 0800 611 116 and in an emergency call 111.

"People should ensure they are up-to-date with their prescriptions and other requirements, and if they get into difficulty, they should make their GP their first call.

"The Bay of Plenty District Health Board is very appreciative of the support and help from our senior doctors, other hospital staff and people working in health organisations across the Bay of Plenty," he said.

One hundred Tauranga resident doctors would be striking after failed negotiations with district health boards over rosters and hours.

Twenty district health boards across the country will be affected by the strike.

In two of the seven rosters at Tauranga hospital, resident doctors work up to 12 days in a row, which includes some 16-hour day shifts, and up to seven consecutive 10-hour night shifts.

The NZRDA asked for the rosters to be no more than four nights in a row and to work no more than 10 days in a row with four days off.