Non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments were cancelled at Timaru Hospital today as senior doctors walked off the job.
The 30 doctors decided to stage a second six-hour strike despite a new offer from the South Canterbury District Health Board.
At first glance the new offer from management did not appear all thatdifferent from their previous one, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell said.
Senior doctors at the hospital claim they are among the worst paid in the country and are subject to increasingly poor working conditions.
"Emergency cover will continue to be provided...but the normal schedule operations and outpatients for non-emergencies will be cancelled," Mr Powell said.
"Other doctors will be on call just to check on patients who are already in hospital.
"We got a message late yesterday evening from the mediator, saying there was a new proposal and we have not had a chance to consider it.
"It does not appear to be radically different from their previous position, but it certainly arrived too late to be considered before the strike ... but we will consider it carefully."
Hospital chief executive Craig Climo could not be reached for comment.
Mr Powell said three further strikes were planned for February 19 and 27 and March 7.
