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Arrangements in Place for Strike by Junior Doctors 17 Jan 2017

The purpose of this message is to keep you informed about our contingency planning during the strike period.

From Dr Hugh Lees, Medical Director, Bay of Plenty District Health Board

Strike action by the RMOs starts at 0700 Tuesday 17 January through to 0800 Friday 20 January 2017.

The purpose of this message is to keep you informed about our contingency planning during the strike period.

Our planning has been focused on ensuring Tauranga and Whakatāne Hospitals will manage without the striking junior doctors, while trying to reduce the impact on services for patients, and allowing clinical staff to focus on patients in most need.

If you want to make a phone referral or have a discussion with a specialty for an admission, our usual process remains unchanged. Once a referral has been accepted then please give the patient a detailed referral letter and direct them to the appropriate area of the hospital.

We have had to reschedule some elective surgery and Outpatient Department appointments. We have contacted patients booked for surgery or a clinic on 17, 18, 19 January in either Tauranga or Whakatāne Hospital.

If any of your patients are unsure about whether their appointment or surgery has been postponed, they should phone 0800 333 477 between 8am and 4.30pm, to check their details.

We have also reminded people that the EDs are for emergencies. For 24/7 medical advice patients can phone their GP clinic, or HealthLine 0800 611 116. For medical treatment they can go to one of the afterhours clinics and in an emergency call 111.

We are very appreciative of the support and help from our senior doctors, other hospital staff and people working in health organisations across the Bay of Plenty.

If you would like more information on the industrial action please use these links for the DHB perspective and the NZRDA perspective.

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