Thursday 14 February 2019 10am

Third RMOs strike ends at Lakes DHB hospitals

The third 48-hour strike action by resident medical officers (junior doctors from the first years after graduating to registrars in advanced stages of their training) at Rotorua Hospital finished at 8am this morning, with few issues.

Most elective services and many outpatient clinics over the two days had to be postponed, with Lakes DHB staff contacting affected patients to let them know, and rebooking them.

Director of Nursing and Midwifery Gary Lees says the Lakes DHB planning worked to keep patients safe.
He says the DHB appreciates the extra efforts many staff have been taking to take to meet the requirements of planning to continue delivering essential services during industrial action.

He says any decisions about changes to services in the lead up to and during strike action are needed to allow clinical staff to focus on those in most need.

The DHB has received some complaints from patients whose appointments or surgeries had to be postponed because of the strike.

“Unfortunately the impact of multiple industrial actions means some appointments and surgeries on NON-strike days have also had to be changed, and this has caused some confusion and unhappiness amongst some patients.”

Those patients who are uncertain of the status of their appointment can ring 0800 223 647 to check.
With the third RMOs strike over, Lakes DHB staff are now concentrating on planning for next week’s industrial action next week, when the 11 anaesthetic technicians who are members of APEX, the Association of Professionals and Executive Employee Inc are on strike from Monday morning 18 February through until Saturday morning, 23 February.

Then the last week of February will see a fourth 48-hour strike planned by RMOs who are members of NZRDA (26-28 February). About 93 RMOs are currently employed by Lakes DHB.

ends