Senior Te Whatu Ora doctors and dentists feel they've been pushed into strike action by a poor pay offer.

About 5000 staff will be striking from September 5.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins hopes issues raised in the looming strike will be resolved before then.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Hipkins kept encouraging doctors and dentists to 'go back around the bargaining table'- as this could create more bad press for the Government.

LISTEN ABOVE

• Nearly 5000 senior doctors, dentists to strike after union vote
• 'Our members have had enough': Salaried Medical Specialists Association director on nation-wide medical strike