National Resident Doctors Strike A Catastrophe

Six Day National Resident Doctors Strike A Catastrophe

“The six day national strike next month by resident doctors employed by district health boards will be a catastrophe,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

“There is no way that safe emergency care can be provided for such a long period of time. Previous strikes have always been localised with other public hospitals available for back-up. However, none of this is possible in a long national strike.”

“Senior doctors can’t comment on the rights and wrongs of the issues that have led to the strike because they have not been consulted. But senior doctors know what a catastrophe for patients is when it stares them in the face.”

“The parties to these negotiations, including the government, must give top priority to quickly resolving their dispute and ensuring that this disastrous strike does not happen. The danger and risks to patient safety and lives are simply too great to do anything else.”

“This planned strike is something that the public health system has not experienced before and is not resourced to handle without seriously compromising patient safety,” concluded Mr Powell.

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