20 February 2019

Whanganui District Health Board’s (WDHB) preparations for planned strike action is ongoing and well in hand to ensure patients receive a full range of emergency and acute services, plus as many elective services as can be safely provided, when resident medical officers (RMOs) withdraw their services again next week.

Across the country, RMOs who are members of the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association (NZRDA) plan to strike for a third time from 8am Tuesday 26 February to 8am Thursday 28 February.

WDHB chief executive Russell Simpson says he has confidence that the level of disruption felt by patients and the public due to the industrial action will be minimised as much as possible.

"As was the case for the previous three RDA strikes in recent weeks, Whanganui Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) will be open for 'business as usual' for emergencies. However, we will again need to reschedule some elective surgery and Outpatient clinics booked for those two days," Mr Simpson says.

“Any patients with a planned surgery, procedure or outpatient appointment booked for the days of the strike will be contacted as soon as possible, if this needs to be rearranged.

"As always, patient safety is front and centre in our minds so all decisions regarding the rescheduling of appointments or surgery will be carefully considered.”

Patients should still come to their scheduled appointment or surgery on the days of the strike action UNLESS we have contacted them directly to say their appointment is being rescheduled.

People with non-urgent ailments or injuries should not delay seeking treatment. Visit your GP or after hours clinic in the first instance. Anyone unsure about whether they need ED care should contact their GP or call Healthline (0800 611 116) for free advice from a registered nurse.