Radiologists at Taranaki Base Hospital are planning a week-long strike over a lack of breaks on weekend shifts which they claim is a health and safety issue.
Apex Union national secretary Dr Deborah Powell said radiologists were afraid of falling asleep on the job and making mistakes.
Dr Flora Gilkison, the Chair of Fulford Radiology, which supplies radiology services to the hospital, said it had offered to introduce a weekend roster and a paid nine-hour break at the end of the weekend to address health and safety concerns.
Dr Powell said this did not address safety concerns during weekend shifts.