Several doctors are staging a one-day strike tomorrow, in a bid for their dentist colleagues to be given the same working conditions as them.
Photo: Andrey Popov 123RF
Twenty-one GPs at Ora Toa Health practices across Wellington are taking part in the rolling strike.
The union's senior industrial officer, Lloyd Woods, said because almost all of the doctors are union members, three practices will have no doctors at all. Two will have minimal support.
He said doctors have tried to spread the word of the strike to ensure patients are aware of the action and know what to do.
"We went out yesterday and put some pamphlets around and tried to use media also to make sure patients are aware there won't be any doctors," Mr Woods said.
"I'm aware that the practices themselves have put the word out, also, that if patients do need some care tomorrow, they can divert to one of the after-hours (medical centres) or to Porirua or at least Kenepuru."
Mr Woods said it's the first time the GPs have ever gone on a full-day strike, and it's an enormous step they had hoped to avoid.