Looks like a junior doctors strike is coming. Reasonable or unreasonable?

[Erica56]

www.bma.org.uk/pay-and-contracts/pay/junior-doctors-pay-scales/fair-pay-for-junior-doctors-in-england

Doctor here - no, we don't

The details of strike action haven't been decided as yet. The ballot in Jan 2023 is to decide if we should strike or not. I expect the answer will be yes by a large majority. They will then ask us what we think should be offered on strike days as sick patients still need care.

You might not have, my dh certainly did. He’s a Consultant though so perhaps they stopped it at some point?

Sadly I don't think there will be a huge majority, that's the main reason they're delaying so that more support can be mustered. I will be voting yes and I hope everyone else does too, but just anecdotally many people I work with and studied with are against it. There are already contingencies in place and plans for who will do what should x strike- I think we should do ours to coincide with the nurses for maximum impact for both of us tbh but it'll never happen.

There isn't a standard approach across the UK re the hypocratic oath so some will still do it and many won't- this will vary even further depending on when the doctor was at uni.

They don't take that oath. What they do get is treated like 💩. No real say in where they live and paid £14 an hour as F1. A lot are planning to move abroad as sick of the conditions. The strike is not just about pay.

And soon it might well be the case that a UK medical degree will be worth nothing abroad if they have their way which will mean no chance of escape.

@Heysnuggee not sure about that. Other countries are actively recruiting our staff as we speak. Huge incentives offered.

It's absolutely not unreasonable. I'll be supporting them and hope they return the favour.

I've been an NHS scientist for 15 years. Our union has reached the threshold to strike and the consultation has started on how we do that. We've had pay freezes and real terms cuts since 2010. Our workload has doubled but our staffing levels haven't. Our job banding hasn't been looked at in 13 years despite the addition of extra skills and national responsibilities. I work 24hour on-call rotas for £1.63 an hour- which prevents me from doing anything during the time on-call as I have to respond immediately. I've worked countless Christmas days and New year's. I work at least 1 weekend in 4. I barely make ends meet and will never afford a house of my own.

So yeah. Enough is enough. I don't want to strike, I'm sure most health care workers would say the same, but when the other side refuses to negotiate and is intent on destroying the public service you work hard for then I see no other option. My mum has been a nurse for nearly 40 years. For the first time ever she will vote to strike and will actually do so.

I think the various unions currently voting on strike action/already striking should coordinate on a general strike for maximum political impact. Enough is enough now.

Reasonable.

My ds was admitted as a 1yo in the last serious doctors strike. He had a very serious condition and needed an op, we were brilliantly facilitated.

Doctors and nurses are human, like everyone they need to be earning a fair wage and working hours that aren’t causing them serious harm (not to mention patients) with enough funding in the system to mean they are neither understaffed nor lacking in the needed technology and medicine.

Reasonable.

I’m certain they would only strike if it was 100 needed.

It’s not a decision they have ever taken lightly., even when their working conditions have been dreadful and unreasonable demanding.

I say forget the clapping and start advocating for better support for them.

we will not have health care workers left if there aren’t changes.

YY to this.

I'm a consultant and 100% support juniors (and nurses and HCPs) in strike action, it was bad enough in terms of pay and conditions when I did my training and I can see that it's only got worse since. I finished my training just at the end of the last strike action and it was so disheartening to see it wasn't effective, from reading some of the stories on here what we were worried about then has come to pass. For those juniors who have posted on here, it breaks my heart, please find someone to talk to, don't struggle in silence, don't become a suicide statistic, I'd fully recommend practitioner health if you need support with your mental health. www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
For those saying strike isn't the answer, this is always a last resort but they have to have that option otherwise negotiations are ineffective and they will get nowhere!
But if it comes to strike the consultants will be on the wards to cover, so the main disruption is that clinics and routine operations will be cancelled, life saving care will always be provided.
If anyone wants to support juniors if they strike then speaking from experience buying hot drinks and cakes etc was extremely welcome on a cold picket line! The NHS is fuelled by tea and cake!

If anyone wants to support juniors if they strike then speaking from experience buying hot drinks and cakes etc was extremely welcome on a cold picket line! The NHS is fuelled by tea and cake

Thanks, I shall do this!

I wonder how long the gov could hold out with likely drs and nurses striking. I think in Ireland a few years back - a nursing strike really did not last long. Although crappy Truss won’t care.

I accidentally voted unreasonable and I am a junior doctor >.< ... I think it's the baby brain plus crazy shifts combined! We need to retain doctors (and all healthcare staff) in this country. The amount of responsibility we have in the worst working conditions is insane. Hope nurses get the pay rise they deserve too!

@Mimi1313 you can change your vote

Yes I did!

As a nurse i totally support them. They are underpaid and often under valued. They are treated appallingly from rotation to rotation

We are also here to support our amazing nurses! We have all struggled for too long.

I’m a nurse of 40 plus years. My daughter is an F2 doctor. The pay is an insult for the job that they do and for the qualifications/training they need to have. The responsibility and stress is huge as I’m all too aware from my DD’s experience. I’m honestly gobsmacked that newly qualified doctors earn only approx 2k more than a newly qualified nurse. Yes, I know their pay progresses over the years but it still doesn’t account for the training and responsibility required. I’m also in support of nurses striking. Recruitment and retention of doctors and nurses is a major problem. The NHS is in a terrible state atm, it’s frightening.

And if they're overworked and underpaid people
Will die.

I support them 💯

Wholeheartedly support them.

And unlike last time, it needs to be a full-on indefinite strike. Half measures don't work - learn from the Australian strikes - total walkout, over in hours.

Start saving now, wait until the day comes, walk out, and don't return until it's sorted.

Us senior doctors and consultants have got your backs on this - we will cope.