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Patients put off as strike looms Ashburton Hospital will be affected by next week’s planned junior doctors’ strike, but will continue to provide safe care. That’s according to the Canterbury District Health Board, which expects most resident medical officers/junior doctors to withdraw their services at its facilities across the region. Some complex surgery that was planned for the days leading up to the strike will need to be postponed, as well as some surgery and outpatient clinics on January 15 and 16. Michael Frampton, Canterbury DHB’s chief people officer, said continuing to provide safe care for patients during the strike remained the highest priority. “We are prioritising essential and acute
services, which means that some outpatient appointments and planned surgeries are being rescheduled,” he said. Staff were already starting to phone those affected. “Patients who have appointments or surgery booked during the strike period can expect to hear from Canterbury DHB. If people don’t hear from us, they should turn up as per their appointment letter,” Frampton said. “I apologise in advance to those whose surgery or outpatient appointment has to be postponed.” In addition, the CDHB was to set up an 0800 number for people who may want to check whether their surgery or outpatient clinic appointment is affected. Contingency plans included reducing
the numbers of patients in hospitals. “Some people may be discharged with in-home care and support where it’s safe and appropriate to do so.” Ashburton residents could help relieve the pressure on the hospital by phoning their general practice team first for all non-urgent care. Members of the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) are planning to strike for 48 hours from 7am on Tuesday until 7am on Thursday. The CDHB employs around 550 resident medical officers (RMOs) and understands about 70 per cent are RDA members. A number of the others belong to a new RMO union. Canterbury DHB employs RMOs at most of its facilities.
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