29 Mar 2019

Junior doctors to strike again - but not in Canterbury

6:02 pm on 29 March 2019

Junior hospital doctors have voted to strike for a fifth time this year, now that bargaining with the district health boards has stalled this month.

Junior doctors striking outside Wellington Hospital today.

Junior doctors striking outside Wellington Hospital on 29 January this year. Photo: RNZ / Karen Brown

Members of the Resident Doctors' Association will strike for four days, from 15 April - but not in Canterbury, because of the terror attacks.

Union advocate David Munro said they voted overwhelmingly to strike, though with natural reservations.

"Nobody becomes a doctor to have to go on strike, they become doctors because they want to help patients and make a contribution to the world, so it's something they find very difficult indeed."

Mr Munro said the doctors will have another session of mediation with the district health boards next Friday.

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