ASMS

The senior doctors’ union says its concerns about the immigration status of pathologists have been acknowledged but the Government’s response falls well short of what is needed. Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), says Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway has written to acknowledge the concerns raised about the removal of pathologists from the Government’s Long-Term Skill Shortage List. ASMS concerns have been detailed in letters to the Government and also outlined briefly in an article …

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The Health Minister is poised to sack the entire Waikato District Health Board and replace it with a commissioner. David Clark has told the embattled DHB he’s seriously dissatisfied with its performance and increasingly worried about its growing deficit. He’s giving the board two weeks to tell him what they think before he makes a final decision. Mr Clark is not commenting further. RNZ health correspondent, Karen Brown with more, listen here: https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018691335/health-minister-warns-waikato-dhb-over-growing-deficit ASMS Executive Director Ian Powell was …

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Health Minister Dr David Clark has informed Waikato DHB Board that he is seriously dissatisfied with their performance and is considering the appointment of a Commissioner to replace Board members. The Board has two weeks (until 3 May) to formally respond before a final decision will be made, taking into account all feedback provided. This is an important part of the natural justice process. “This step is not being taken lightly, however I am increasingly concerned by Waikato DHB’s deteriorating …

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“Hospital midwives are to be congratulated for successfully negotiating a safer staffing accord – and now it’s the turn of hospital specialists to have a similar agreement with the Government to address the serious workforce issues they’re dealing with,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS). He was commenting on news that Health Minister David Clark will host the signing of a staffing accord for midwives (https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/midwifery-workforce-accord-welcomed). ASMS has been trying to secure …

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Phew is the reaction from Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) to the news that the Employment Relations Authority will undertake a ‘facilitation’ of the long-running toxic industrial dispute between the 20 district health boards (DHBs) and the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) representing resident (junior) doctors. Facilitation is a provision in the Employment Relations Act which enables the Employment Relations Authority, on application from an employer or union, to intervene in a collective agreement …

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Health Minister David Clark has congratulated the midwives’ unions, DHBs, and the Ministry of Health for agreeing a joint accord to help ensure safe and sustainable staffing levels in our public hospitals. Agreement of the accord follows DHB midwives’ vote to accept a new Multi-Employer Collective Agreement on Friday. “The Government is committed to making sure that staffing levels for midwives employed by DHBs are safe for mothers, their babies and for midwives themselves,” David Clark says. “It is clear …

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A focus on workforce in the Health and Disability System Review has been welcomed by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), but it cautions against any unsettling industrial changes. In an interview with The Specialist, the quarterly magazine produced by ASMS, review panel Chair Heather Simpson suggests it might be desirable for Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) to be covered by the same employment agreements as their junior colleagues, Resident Medical Officers (RMOs). At present the two groups have separate …

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Our condolences to all ASMS members who lost family members, friends and colleagues in the act of terrorism in Christchurch on 15 March 2019, and our admiration and support for all who worked under extreme pressure during this terrible time. Kia kaha.

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Stress, fatigue, and overwork are taking a toll on New Zealand’s public hospital specialists and District Health Boards need to do much more to support them, Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) Executive Director Ian Powell says. Research conducted by ASMS in 2016 revealed a 50% burnout rate among senior doctors employed by DHBs.  In response to the lack of concerted action by health bosses to address this crisis, ASMS has developed a practical and collaborative framework to address these …

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The senior doctors’ union is urging the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to help sort out the long-running industrial dispute between resident (junior) doctors and their district health boards (DHBs). “This toxic and acrimonious dispute needs to end so we can all just focus on the task of treating patients,” says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS). He was commenting on the Resident Doctors’ Association’s application to the ERA for facilitation (non-binding arbitration) in its …

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