Junior doctors ‘close to DHB settlement’

The country’s largest junior doctors’ union is ‘‘cautiously optimistic’’ a long-awaited settlement could be reached with their District Health Board (DHB) employers on Thursday.

The possibility of a resolution has come despite the terms of the doctors’ old Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (Meca) expiring last week.

This was significant as the agreement preserved a clause – known as ‘‘Schedule 10’’ – which prevented doctors from working more than 10 consecutive days or four night shifts in a row – one of the key stumbling blocks in the protracted year-long talks.

New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association (NZRDA) senior advocate David Munro hoped that a settlement could be reached when the two groups meet for mediated bargaining talks in Auckland on Thursday.

‘‘We’ve made more progress at the bargaining table in the last week or so than we have in almost all the time proceeding that.

‘‘On that basis, we are holding off on issuing another strike notice at this stage.’’

A DHBs’ spokesman said ‘‘good progress’’ had been made in the last series of talks and the DHBs looked forward to meeting the union again later this week.

‘‘The substantive issue remains the ability for clinicians at a local level to determine how best to look after patients, manage training and arrange work while protecting RMOs’ rights.’’

As the Meca had expired, doctors were now on individual employment agreements until a deal could be hammered out; however, any new junior doctors would be subject to the expired Meca in the meantime.