Rotorua Hospital braces for next round of strike action

Aerial shot of Rotorua Hospital. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua Hospital is once again postponing surgeries and outpatient clinics as it prepares for junior doctors to walk off the job.

It's not known yet how many patients will be affected by the strike action which will run for 73 hours from 7am next Tuesday.

However Lakes District Health Board's chief operating officer Nick Saville-Wood said almost all elective surgery cases and most outpatient clinics were being rescheduled for the three days of the strike.

Mr Saville-Wood said contingency meetings had been held daily at Rotorua Hospital since it received strike notice from the NZ Resident Doctors' Union at the end of December.

The strike will run from 7am Tuesday through to 8am on Friday, January 20.

"Those people whose appointments are being deferred are being contacted individually by Lakes DHB."

Mr Saville-Wood said the health board also had an 0800 number - 0800 223 647 - for those people uncertain about their appointments or procedures during the strike.

"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 or Lakes PrimeCare their first port of call."

He said only urgent cases would be able to be dealt with at the emergency department at Rotorua Hospital during the industrial action.

"The contingency planning focuses on ensuring the continuing provision of essential emergency services including acute surgery, emergency department care, intensive care, and maternity care."

In October, resident doctors walked off the job for 48 hours.

During that strike, 309 outpatient clinic appointments had to be postponed by Lakes DHB.

In addition, 52 patients had surgical procedures postponed.