Contingency plans again in place for strike by junior doctors

Northlanders are being asked not to come to Whangarei Hospital's Emergency Department with non-urgent medical problems during this week's second, national two-day strike by junior doctors.

Northland District Health Board is again finalising its contingency plans to provide medical cover during the strike, which is planned for 49 hours from 7am on Wednesday, 7 May to 8am on Friday, 9 May.

Elective surgery and other non-urgent procedures scheduled for this period have again been deferred. Around 100 elective surgery cases have been postponed, and approximately 200 outpatient clinic appointments will be rescheduled.

Senior doctors will provide medical cover in Northland hospitals, and the DHB has an agreement with the junior doctors' union, the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association, to provide cover in life-preserving situations.

Dr Nick Chamberlain, Northland DHB's General Manager, Surgery, Critical Care, Medicine and Diagnostic Services, said that Whangarei Hospital would provide acute and emergency care during the strike. However, with more junior doctors being eligible to strike on this occasion, he warned that services may be more stretched.

The public appeared to have heeded warnings not to overload the Emergency Department during the recent strike in April, which meant that staff had been able to cope. General Practitioners also had a major part to play in helping out. Dr Chamberlain requested that non-urgent patients should again seek help from their family doctor or nearest accident and medical centre, before attending an emergency department during the strike period.


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For further information, please contact:

Clare Blackburn, Communications Manager

Northland District Health Board

Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3315