Would you support a junior doctor strike?

[NC3435]

NC for this. To be clear, during the last strike, non training grade doctors were in hospitals etc as were consultants. Emergency work continued and A+E was functioning. The background to the dispute is that JDs want pay restoration to the levels in 2008/09 and the BMA has been attempting to engage with the government for a while without any acknowledgement. There is a staffing and retention crisis with more and more doctors leaving the country every year. Those of us still around are pretty burnt out from the last 2 years and things are getting worse - this includes patient care.

Junior doctors are not the same as medical students you know right @Charlieiscool

Absolutely. I hope my professions (AHP) ballots for a strike too and I’ll be striking

^This. Enough is enough.

I've just replied on another thread about the dreadful pay and millstone of debt.

Healthcare and public service sector workers should get discounted benefits which banks and others could offset against their tax. A sliding scale.

Doctors and similar should have their degree cost waived for signing up with the NHS for say 5 years. Not to do any of these invites risk of losing people to abroad and the private sector.

Our prime minister is a disgrace. Its not rocket science, and stop fiddling with balance sheets. Balance sheets can tell whatever story a financier wants to tell. I never thought I would say this, but Boris wouldn't be fiddling whilst the NHS burns.

Strike dates announced.

For any junior doctors out there, just know that the vast majority of consultants supports you ++++. Not going to lie, I'm not looking forward to potentially doing nights again, but if that's what needs to be done , then so be it.

Wish we could lose the name 'junior' doctor. Implies they are not very experienced, when in reality they can be 13+ years out of Uni.
I have learned over the last year how appallingly they are treated. V little say where they will live - not just town, but county. 5th years will find out where they will be in July in a week or so (if UKFPO don't balls that up too). So they'll start a v stressful job miles away from any friends or family, where they know no one. Then they'll go through the same procedure 2 years later if they are lucky enough to get a specialism job - there aren't enough of these, even though we desperately need doctors. The whole thing is bonkers.
The pay is not great. People saying it goes up lots every year, this only happens if they manage to get a place on the next stage up - not a given by any means.
It is a big fat mess and I support the strike all the way. Something has to change or they will all up sticks to Aus and NZ.

Not sure. Doesn’t “junior” doctor basically mean everyone below consultant level? That would cause chaos.

@MrsSkylerWhite that's exactly what it means. So consultants will be covering the work. I believe it is causing some funny situations with medical students showing their lecturers how to do a cannula again 😊.

Given their earnings potential in the long run, no. I do think they need to fix the issues with doctors and pension rules.

I support the nurses strike whole heartedly.

I absolutely support the strike every worker should have the basic right to withdraw labour ( the police and armed forces excepted who obviously sign up but are normally remunerated well)).

The current state of healthcare- the understaffing, overwork and stress of juniors drs, nurses etc are from years and years of mismanagement. If we wish to attract the brightest and the best to support our future healthcare needs we need to be prepared to provide a package that will attract and more importantly retain them!

No I wouldn't.mAnd I hope legislationnis introduced to stop nurses and doctors striking. They aren't that badly paid IMHO.

@MintJulia then do some research. Yes, consultants can earn a lot. But there are such huge bottlenecks is in training now many doctors won't ever get that far. And they also have over £80,000 of student debt, for the privilege of training to be a doctor. Poorer students will have over £100,000. They pay their own insurance, for the exams they gave to pass to progress, and for parking. Last one is bonkers. Who else pays to park at their place of work, that has a huge car park ?
Don't support them. But don't expect them to stay in the UK.

@Viviennemary then they will leave, and you won't have any healthcare. Your choice.

The biggest mistake is calling them junior doctors, these are highly qualified professionals. There must be a better name

@Newcatbrowntail Doctors ?

I support the rights of all workers to strike for better conditions and pay. I may not always agree with their individual demands, or think they will achieve them, but the right should be there. Imagine how much more of a shit show we would be in without the right to strike. Feel the same about protests too.

Senior Doctor
Expert Doctor
executive doctor
Hospital Doctor
Leading Doctor
Chief Doctor
Higher Doctor
ANYTHING BUT JUNIOR FFS

I have so much to say on this, what I will say now (because I’m busy and trying to cook breakfast)

”my” consultants ie the ones I manage will not be covering for the juniors. Some of them don’t support the strikes and some of them are involved in their own pay despite with the trust (BMA rate cards).

I manage a rotation of 10 junior doctors every 4 months - I’ve seen 100’s of them come and go through my department. I do not support the strikes

@fissty breakfast ? At 12.30pm. Are you in the UK ?
Doctors will come and go. Because they are made to. 4 month placements followed by 6 month ones means they are constantly coming and going. I'm confused.

I support all strikers. There has never been a strike I didn’t support. It is workers’ only weapon and a weapon of very last resort.

Is it always and only Tory governments who drive the workers out on strike?

I was a HCP in a former life. Junior Doctors have always been treated appallingly, but I understand conditions have become even worse now. I don't blame the increasing number who are taking their skills abroad or leaving the profession altogether. Wild horses wouldn't drag me back. Those saying "if you don't like it then leave" will no doubt be complaining the loudest when they are unable to get a GP appointment, have to wait 12 months for a specialist referral or suffer the indignity of being treated on the floor of a corridor in A&E because no one wants to do the job anymore and the few that remain are too exhausted to provide proper care.

Solidarity with all striking public sector workers. Teachers and Doctors are not the enemy. This Government, the ones telling us to work more hours and be grateful for turnips while they claim hundreds of thousands of pounds a year in expenses, are the real enemy.

Well they are badly paid obviously, as we can't get anyone to take the jobs.

In DH’s specialty they will cover for the juniors, by cancelling clinics and procedures. They all (12 consultants) support the strikes 100%, in fact all the consultants we know (many many!) support the strike.
And they are being balloted at the moment by the BMA. Although the main thing they want is the pension tax nonsense sorting out.

My favourite quote 😊

'Teachers and Doctors are not the enemy. This Government, the ones telling us to work more hours and be grateful for turnips while they claim hundreds of thousands of pounds a year in expenses, are the real enemy'