MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate use
5 October 2016
ASMS advice for hospital specialists during planned strike
The union for senior doctors and dentists working in public hospitals is advising members of their ethical and legal
obligations if the two-day strike planned by the union representing doctors in training goes ahead. The Association of
Salaried Medical Specialists represents over 90% of senior doctors employed by district health boards.
Members of the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association have voted to strike in support of their collective employment
contract negotiations with district health boards over the issue of workplace fatigue, and this is due to happen from
7am Tuesday 18 October until 7am Thursday 20 October.
“This is a lawful strike by resident medical officers in support of their MECA negotiations and they have given the
required 14 days’ notice,” says ASMS Executive Director Ian Powell.
“At the same time, we know the strike will cause difficulty for some of our members who will be called upon to do
additional work and change some of their hours of work. Patient wellbeing is at the heart of what doctors do every day,
and DHBs will be relying on the goodwill of hospital specialists to provide additional cover during this period.”
He says ASMS will seek to negotiate an agreement with the DHBs nationally for additional payments and other support for
hospital specialists taking on additional work, hours or duties during the strike.
In the meantime, ASMS has provided the following advice to members: http://www.asms.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ASMS-advice-to-members-on-RDAs-proposed-strike-Oct-16.pdf
ENDS