As the planned junior doctors' strike looms closer, Otago and Southland district health board arrangements for payment of senior doctors undertaking extra duties are still up in the air.
Brian Rousseau, chief executive for both boards, has drawn criticism from the executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Ian Powell over his attitude to the national recommendation on financial compensation during the 48-hour strike which is expected to begin on Tuesday.
Mr Powell was concerned that Mr Rousseau was trying to persuade senior doctors at both boards to accept a lower rate than the recommendation because the board could not afford it.
He described Mr Rousseau's stance as unfair and irresponsible.
For some senior doctors, the strike would be "absolute hell'' and the payments were designed to recognise the exceptional circumstances faced by them during a strike, Mr Powell said.
"When chief executives get ants in their pants, it doesn't lead to good decision-making.''
The national recommendation rates range from $250 per hour to $500 per hour, depending on the time doctors are working.
Mr Rousseau said he was not prepared to comment yesterday while discussions were proceeding with the ASMS.
He would not confirm that he was suggesting the senior doctors accept a lower rate than the national recommendation.
Otago Association representative Chris Wisely said last night that there had been some delicate discussions with Mr Rousseau during the day, trying to move to a resolution which might give people a choice.
Dr Wisely considered Mr Rousseau's position was well intentioned but misguided. Mr Rousseau was trying to live within a budget, he said.
Some senior doctors had indicated they would offer any extra payment to a medical cause. Dr Wisely said he expected there to be further discussions before the planned 48-hour strike.
Support for the junior doctors was high among senior doctors who recognised the retention problems. It was not surprising junior doctors saddled with student debt were attracted to the pay and conditions in Australia, he said.
Dr Wisely did not consider Health Minister David Cunliffe's comments reported yesterday, critical of the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association secretary Dr Deborah Powell, had been helpful to the resolution of the dispute.
Dunedin RDA representative Dr Logan Mitchell, a registrar, agreed, saying it was misleading for Mr Cunliffe to use the salary of $88,000 as average for a first-year house surgeon.
To earn that sort of money, a junior doctor would have to be doing a 65-hour week, Dr Mitchell said.
Very few first year doctors would be doing that, he said. Most would be in the $60,000 to $68,000 band, working between 50 and 60 hours a week. This equated with $24 an hour.
