Doctors not expecting a deal Friday

The head of the NLMA is warning that a deal probably won't be reached quickly when doctors and government officials meet Friday.

"I think we are just going to go and see what they have to say," said Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association president Dr. Pat O'Shea.

"I think people should temper their expectations. We are in the middle of a ratification process and we will not be doing very much until that vote comes back in. So I don't think there is going to be any major announcements after the meeting tomorrow," he said.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Jerome Kennedy announced that doctors and government officials will meet this week to talk.

The medical association said there have been no real talks since mid-summer and the government hasn't budged from the offer it made them last spring.

Last month, the medical association sent the government's offer to a vote. More than 1,000 doctors in the province are expected to vote by Dec. 13.

The NLMA saidit's also confused by conflicting messages from the cabinet ministers.

Kennedy initiated the meeting, but Finance Minister Tom Marshall only a day before flatly rejected the idea of using the surplus to sweeten a deal for doctors. Marshall also maintained that the government's existing offer is generous and should be accepted.

Doctors have until Dec. 13 to mail in their votes on the current offer.