The District Health Board (DHB) has entered into a contract to provide every Resident Medical Officer (RMO) with a meal, while on duty. Since 2000, those meals have included the choice of a pre-packaged drink.

All RMOs were sent a letter by DHB last year telling them that the meal privilege would be limited to three items and the option of pre-packaged drinks would no longer be available.

Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) complained that the DHB had not consulted doctors regarding this change, and thus, requested a meeting.

So, DHB has been ordered to have a talk with its junior doctors over the exclusion of pre-packaged drinks from staff meals.

DHB violated its commitment under the Employment Relations Act by failing to consult with the New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) about changes to meals, as per The Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

The association resented over its damaging relation with DHB.

Association Spokeswoman, Deborah Powell expressed that junior doctors often worked for 12-hours, with no breaks, and were required to move all over the hospital to see patients. So, they need to get hydrated. Moreover, the $250,000 cost of providing drinks was much less than the cost of giving doctors meal breaks.

RDA told that the DHB held a meeting after three months for the discussion of the matter and the changes were made in November 2009.