A second planned 48 hour junior doctors’ strike from 8am Tuesday 29 January until 8am Thursday 31 January will affect some surgery and outpatient clinics planned for next week at Hawke’s Bay Hospital.
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board is well prepared and advanced in its contingency planning for the Members of the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association [RDA] second strike.
Chief Medical and Dental Officer Dr John Gommans said the priority was to continue to provide safe quality care during the strike period, when the district health board expects most Resident Medical Officers/junior doctors to withdraw their services.
Hawke’s Bay DHB employs around 153 Resident Medical Officers [RMOs] and understands many are RDA members.
A number of others belong to a new RMO union.
Dr Gommans said essential and acute services would be prioritised during this time which will mean some outpatient appointments and planned surgeries will be either rescheduled or put on standby. Those people who are affected will be contacted by the district health board.
“We will be re-booking those affected to the next available appointment, and we apologise in advance to those whose surgery or outpatient appointment is postponed,” Dr Gommans said.
The Emergency Department (ED) at Hawke’s Bay Hospital will remain open during the strike, however we are asking people to please help take pressure off emergency services during the strike period by phoning their General Practice team first or calling Healthline 0800611116 for all non-urgent care, he said.
A full list of medical centres, pharmacies and general practice centres can be found at www.ourhealthhb.nz
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