Premier Danny Williams, left, announced a new deal with gynecologic oncologists and other specialists with Health Minister Ross Wiseman. (CBC)

Newfoundland and Labrador's three gynecologic oncologists will be eligible for the same massive pay increase given in May to other cancer specialists, Premier Danny Williams said Monday.

The decision was risky but necessary, said Williams, aiming to defuse a health crisis in which the three St. John's-based specialists had threatened to quit in December.

"The patient concerns [were] a big trigger in all of this, I have to be quite honest with you," said Williams, announcing a deal that will increase the physicians' base salary by $73,000.

"We have to come up with the money in these circumstances, but when you're in the middle of a collective agreement, to step outside of that collective agreement and try and deal with a matter, it's a dangerous precedent," Williams said.

"But when you're talking in terms of patient health and safety, and well-being, and health care, then sometimes you just have to step up."

The doctors — specialists Lesa Dawson, Cathy Popadiuk and Patti Power — had submitted letters of resignation to draw attention to the issue of patient care.

Power told CBC News on Monday that while the gynecologic oncologists were pleased with progress made last week, they were caught off guard by Monday's offer on remuneration.

Dr. Patti Power said she and her colleagues were surprised by Monday's offer of a pay increase. (CBC)

"We were all quite surprised, but certainly very relieved," Power said. "It's been very stressful on patients."

Power said the government's new deal, which has also been extended to seven other specialists working with hematological and pediatric cancers, will have important implications for patient care, from obtaining new technologies to accessing clinical trials.

"These are huge advances, not just for our own service, but some of the things that Eastern Health will bring about will help other oncology groups," Power said in an interview.

In addition to remuneration, the three physicians wanted increased operating-room time, extra nursing and clerical support, and guaranteed opportunities to upgrade their skills.

Last week, the Newfoundland and Labrador government said it had solved most of the line items, other than remuneration.

Williams said Monday the three doctors, and several others, are now eligible for a large increase offered in the spring to pathologists as well as medical and radiation oncologists.

Overall packages for the oncologists will range from $370,000 to $390,000, depending on factors that include on-call service and whether the physicians also hold appointments at Memorial University, a government official told CBC News.

Deal a must to stop doctor exodus: premier

The Newfoundland and Labrador government astonished the medical community in May with a pay package that included a $73,000 raise for pathologists alone.

The offer for medical and radiation oncologists was similar to the deal for radiologists, and brought the total compensation package to $346,668.

Williams said the May deal overnight brought pay rates for applicable specialties from the lowest levels in the country to among the highest. He said the deal was necessary to stop medical professionals from leaving the province.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association had said it was excellent for specific groups, but did not address larger issues and was also divisive, as it did not include other medical specialists, including the gynecologic oncologists.

Williams and Health Minister Ross Wiseman have for weeks said they were not prepared to negotiate a salary increase with the gynecologic oncologists or others, particularly as the NLMA contract does not expire until 2009.

Williams said Monday, however, that contract negotiations with the NLMA will now start in January, rather than next April as scheduled.