ON THE FRONTLINE: A group of junior doctors from the Hawke's Bay Hospital picketed as part of the Resident Doctors' Association's three-day Strike in January. Photo/Paul Taylor
ON THE FRONTLINE: A group of junior doctors from the Hawke's Bay Hospital picketed as part of the Resident Doctors' Association's three-day Strike in January. Photo/Paul Taylor
After reaching a successful agreement on roster hours Hawke's Bay's junior doctors have thanked the public for their support throughout their Safer Hours campaign.
Last Friday New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association members accepted the proposal reached between the union and DHBs as a result of their Safer Hours campaign, endingnegotiations that had started in January last year.
New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association vice president Dr Helen Saywell said the very pleased with the result and that the agreement had been a "relief" after many months of campaigning.
"We're unbelievably grateful to the public who have supported us. The public understanding has been incredible," she said.
The agreement comes shortly after a nationwide 73 hour-long strike in January in which more than 100 resident doctors at Hawke's Bay Hospital took part in.
Changes agreed on in the settlement ensure that doctors working on duty, 24/7 or caring for acutely unwell patients won't be required to work more than 10 consecutive days and will be rostered a corresponding day off during the week for each weekend day worked.
Dr Saywell said she was looking forward to younger doctors not having to work a "soul crushing" 12 consecutive days.
"I'm looking forward to my junior colleagues having some recovery time because I know firsthand how much of a difference it can make," she said.
Doctors working on these rosters will also work no more than four consecutive night shifts of up to 10 hours and a new provision will allow doctors to work back to back weekends but also have a chance to attach some of their rostered days off to weekends for meaningful time off.
The Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) which expired in February 2016 will remain in force until February 2018 and the format of the rosters will be decided between DHB management and resident doctors on a local scale.
