National Support For Striking South Cant. Doctors

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,
FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2003

“National Support For Striking South Canterbury Doctors”

“There is strong national support from senior doctors for the strike action being taken by senior doctors in South Canterbury,” said Dr Peter Roberts, National President of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today. Dr Roberts was reporting the following unanimous resolution adopted yesterday by the Association’s National Executive.

The unanimous resolution stated:

That the National Executive recognise how difficult it is for senior doctors to take strike action, no matter how limited its scope, and supports members employed by the South Canterbury District Health Board in their determination to resolve this dispute in order that the public of South Canterbury can receive the full ranges of quality health services that they need and deserve.

Further, we note that these strikes have been forced on senior doctors by a top-heavy autocratic managerial style that has failed to recognise the values of professionalism that senior doctors so dearly adhere to and that these values are the foundation for providing high quality safe standards of care for patients.

“Management’s attitudes and tactics are a major obstacle to recruiting new senior doctors to Timaru Hospital and threatens to drive away senior doctors that they currently employ unless the board does something quickly,” concluded Dr Roberts.

Dr Peter Roberts
NATIONAL PRESIDENT

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