Taranaki junior doctors won’t join in strike action

Taranaki junior doctors are not taking strike action next week for fear their training will be affected, the resident doctors’ union says.

But the DHB shared services, which is negotiating with the union on behalf of the 20 DHBs, said it was the union’s demands that were threatening training.

Junior doctors, also called registered medical officers, around the country are planning strike action between January 17-20. A strike was also held in october for 48 hours and Taranaki junior doctors took part.

The doctors are objecting to working 12 days in a row and seven days of night shift in a row, which they say is unsafe.

Doctors from Taranaki and West Coast DHBs are the only ones not going on strike this time around.

NZ Resident Doctors Association National Secretary Dr Deborah Powell said union members in Taranaki were worried about their training.

‘‘Our members in Taranaki are concerned the training they are getting at Taranaki Base Hospital is so fragile, so touch-and-go to be honest, they simply can’t see themselves taking part in strike action.

‘‘We need to have a very serious look at what’s going on with train- ing at Taranaki Base Hospital.’’

It’s not a problem in other parts of the country, so it raised red flags for the union, she said.

‘‘We didn’t know they were in trouble over there. We have to do some investigation into what’s happening in Taranaki and why they alone in Taranaki are so at risk for their training.’’

It’s a pretty serious situation to be in, she said.

All of the doctors were fully qualified registered practitioners, but they were undergoing postgraduate study to be specialists, she said. ‘‘It’s largely done with formal exams and study, but a lot of it is done in an apprenticeship style of training. And it’s the apprenticeship, the on the job training, that seems to be to be at risk in Taranaki as our members see it. It’s pretty scary. We are taking it seriously.’’

But in statement released last month, Julie Patterson, lead CEO for the DHBs Employment Relations Programme, said DHBs were very concerned about the effect the union demands would have on doctor training.

‘‘Some union members have written directly to both the DHBs and the union, concerned that their union’s demands will negatively impact on their training.’’

Taranaki District Health Board wouldn’t comment because negotiations were ongoing.