The Bay of Plenty District Health Board reports no serious concerns at either Tauranga or Whakatane hospitals as a result of this week's junior doctors' strike.

About 100 junior doctors, who are members of the New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association, walked off the job at 7am on Tuesday for 73 hours to protest their current working conditions.

The strike has come about after negotiations between the NZDRA and health boards stalled over resident doctors working conditions.

About 3000 doctors around New Zealand are taking part in the industrial action which is affecting 18 of the country's 20 DHB's.

The three-day strike is scheduled to end at 8am on Friday.

'We are coping well in both Tauranga and Whakatane, and there are no concerns at the moment,” says BOPDHB medical director Dr Hugh Lees.

'The response of our communities has been extremely good in both Tauranga and Whakatane, and we would like to thank them for their understanding.”

BOPDHB currently employs 164 resident doctors across both Tauranga and Whakatane Hospitals, of which, 116 are members of the NZRDA.

The NZRDA says some resident doctors are made to work unsafe hours 12 days in a row, and night shifts of seven days in a row, and is seeking a maximum of four nights in a row followed by three days off and a maximum 10 days in a row with four days off.

A spokesperson for the NZRDA says the association has also heard there has been no serious concerns as a result of the strike action.

'With regard to how it's [the strike] going, we can never know for sure until pretty much the strike is over, that's when all the stuff really happens.”

The spokesperson describes the industrial action as the last resort, adding no doctor – be it junior or senior – wants to be striking in the first place.

Comments posted to the SunLive websiteshows opinion is clearly divided, with some people supporting the strike action, while others are clearly against it.

'No one dies whilst those in the 'caring profession' are having their little tanty and stamping their feet. There HAS to be a better way of sorting this than risking peoples [sic] lives,” one reader writes.

While another reader suggests the 'Hippocratic oath might have been ditched in favour of the Hypocritical”.

However, many have jumped to the junior doctors' defence, with one reader blasting commenters who did not support the junior doctors' strike.

'These comments so far are absolutely disgraceful! If you want to oppose hypocrisy, then get off your own backsides and become doctors yourselves!

'If you were getting assistance by a knackered doctor I bet you'd be the first to complain! Good on you doctors. With this action, let's get more doctors, better services and a safer industry.”

BOPDHB says it has all shifts affected by the strike covered, with either junior and/or senior medical staff as appropriate. However, it's likely the Emergency Departments at both Tauranga and Whakatane hospitals will be impacted greatest.

If you are unsure if your scheduled appointment has been affected by the strike contact the BOPDHB on 0800-333-477, between 8am and 4.30pm.

If you require medical attention for a situation that is not life threatening call your GP clinic or phone the free HealthLine on 0800 611 116 for health advice in the first instance.

In an emergency call 111.

For more information about the strike visit the Bay of Plenty District Health Board website.