Travel restrictions on medical staff

been postponed indefinitely, the memo said.

The changes also apply to staff from other DHBS around the country.

Sarah Dalton, the executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, said DHBS do not have enough staff as it is and the restrictions are an attempt to maintain ‘‘sufficient’’ staffing levels.

‘‘My guess is they are trying to do the best they can in a difficult situation,’’ she said.

‘‘But we’ve been saying for some time that there aren’t enough senior doctors. Our contention is that the DHBS have been running things too thinly in terms of their staffing levels. We’ve got a stretched health workforce.’’

North Shore Hospital already has more than 40 staff in self-isolation after they were exposed to a probable case of coronavirus.

Dalton said that had put them under ‘‘immense pressure’’.

‘‘The more people that are away on leave means more pressure there is on the remaining staff,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s not that people are being selfish about these things. Some of these people would have had to book ahead for a break and now they are facing the possibility that they can’t do that.

‘‘A lot of health services are already asking people to book their leave months ahead as it is.’’

In a statement for the Northern Region DHBS, a spokesperson said they had to take ‘‘reasonable steps to protect the ability of our hospitals to provide uninterrupted care’’.

‘‘Anyone who decides to undertake private international travel and is required to spend a period in selfisolation on return will be given the option of working from home, if possible, during that period,’’ the spokesperson said.

‘‘If this is not possible, other types or paid and unpaid leave will be considered.’’