salvatory- I do agree with some of your post. It can be a great job. It is a great privilege to be a doctor at times. Less so at others! I don't think that I or anyone else was trying to pretend that doctors are paid the same as teachers or cleaners. Obviously, they are both paid much less than the average doctor. The starting salary (basic) is similar to a teacher but rises to a much higher level. My comment about the cleaner was only in response to what you said about being paid a lot of money for out of hours, whereas in fact, the hourly rate is surprisingly low.
I also agree with you about PhD researchers and academics being very underpaid for their level of qualifications and level of intelligence. Some of them do amazing work and are v under valued. Lots of v talented teachers too..
Not always true re the Uni/ vs medical pay scale though. My husband (a doctor) was paid on the Uni scale during his research years and it was higher at one point that the medical scale.
I don't agree with you that male graduates are falling a med school because women have more access to the course. That has been the case for years but the percentage of women has risen significantly in the past 20 years or so. With equal access, you would expect around 50/50 no?
Yes, nurses have taken over certain procedures and can be v effective at running certain clinics but, with respect, there is a huge difference between inserting stents into coronary arteries or operating on a patient's brain and doing a cervical smear or a flexi sig. Different ball game.
And, of course, doctors are human and make errors just like everyone else. I would still compare myself to people that I know of similar education, intelligence and experience such as my siblings, close friends/ their partners, etc (in the sort of professions I listed before) when looking at salaries rather than an average person leaving school at 16 with average grades.
I think 31/32 is on the unusual side for a Consultant post as a lot of specialties demand research nowadays. I think average is more mid 30s, probably on the later side of that range.
march21- I'm not sure that I would choose to give up NHS work altogether, not that I have any issue with people who make a different choice. I love the fact that we treat all patients whether rich/ poor, old/ young, etc. I suppose that sits well with me and gives me job satisfaction. I didn't go into Medicine to earn masses of money. It's only now, with an assortment of children, that a bit of extra income could come in v handy. I expect lots of people feel the same!
I will PM you later as would be v interested to hear your experience/ ideas. I do think a lot of doctors are creatures of habit, lack innovation and just tolerate being treated badly without trying to see what they can do about it.