Doctor salary

[Jessica231]

I was shocked to learn today what a junior Doctor is actually paid. No wonder the NHS is in such a state.

£14 per hour for a newly qualified doctor…

£24 per hour for 8+ years of experience….

I pay my cleaner more…..

Embarrassed to say this is something I wasn’t aware of! The pay seems totally incompatible with the time they spend training, skills required and the responsibility involved.

Anyone else shocked?

I should have realised that being a doctor is an impossible career for a mother a long time ago. I'll share the moment I realised I was just another pawn to the system. It was during the pandemic, we received claps and I felt proud to serve my country. I agreed to allow my hospital to alter my rota to unsafe working conditions. When a doctor called in sick with COVID, I agreed to cover the shift at zero notice and paid extortionate child care fees. COVID rules were changed for doctors so we could work 48hrs after becoming unwell, it seemed strange and there was no evidence behind it at the time. They just wanted to sacrifice us.

I didn't grow up with very much, to summarise, 13 people lived in a 3 bedroom terraced house. For me, this isn't about money. This is about decency and respect.

I fell pregnant. I asked my employer if I could change roles because of the COVID risk. At the time, the government rules were for pregnant women to shield. But not for me, I was expected to see COVID patients and I did. I fell unwell with COVID and was called 20 times on day 3 while I was trying to rest. I told them I was too unwell to come in but they harassed me anyway. I returned to work a week later and asked if I could come off the 13hr shifts. I had never had a break during these shifts and I knew it would be too hard to stand up all day performing surgery during pregnancy. I was told "it's too early in your pregnancy" for changes to be made. I kept requesting an occupational health review. The wait was 7 weeks to see someone. My emails were ignored and I showed up to work.

I fainted, fell down the stairs and collapsed. I told my consultant and went home in tears. I was called the next day by management and was told that I shouldn't have worked if I couldn't and that my actions resulted in there being a patient safety risk as no doctor was available.

I felt so heartbroken. I told them, again and again and they waved a paper at me that I had signed 3 weeks before the incident to say I agreed to doing the long shifts but that wasn't true. I agreed on the basis that this was approved by occupational health which they said they would fast track but never did. Everything was thrown in my face and it still is to this day.

I have sacrificed myself for so long. I sacrificed my unborn child. I cannot sacrifice my kids any longer.

Such depressing stories. On top of this, Al of the right wing press are shot talking doctors this morning. They are utterly without morals.

If you want to go into healthcare consulting, I'd advise you look beyond the accounting firms - specialist consultancy firms such as Mckinsey etc may have more on offer.

So depressing to read some of these stories. My DD is at the start of her career and she’s doing a great job. Facing the fact that she will probably burn out and may leave is upsetting. Watching her study so hard for A levels and at medical school - for a rubbish salary and terrible working conditions - makes me both sad and angry. The NHS are losing excellent doctors who have become disillusioned, stressed and exhausted. It’s a false economy to pay junior doctors such a low salary as they can do locum shifts, which are well paid, to supplement their income.

Please try and support her it is a very tough journey and unfortunately doesn't get better. Women are disproportionately affected as doctors. I work 60% which is a 30hr week (plus around 3-5hrs unpaid and 2hrs in my own time for research/portfolio/audits). For many jobs 33-37hrs a week is not 60%. It will take me double the amount of time to become a consultant because our training is based upon time at work as well as the competencies we achieve. I earn 30k a year working these hours and have worked as a doctor for 7 years. I was in my second year as a doctor performing ELCS under supervision and was being paid around £8 accounting for time for this procedure. I will make more going into aesthetics and performing forehead Botox for £150.

Doctors have left the NHS a long time ago and now the ones who are so passionate and dedicated are leaving. It's truly horrific and sad.

Totally agree @Neet429. I flippantly suggested the other day that she goes into the cosmetic industry and she was horrified! She’s presently looking into going to Australia this year after F2 which says it all really.

This thread is depressing. We r medics and all that has been mentioned so far rings true for us too. We have supportive non resident parents that gave us great starts so neither of us had student debt but yes we r fed up of the crappy thankless jobs we have in the NHS. We would actively encourage anyone considering doing medicine into looking at other options that are better paid with less stress. I once did a shift a a practice I had never worked before where I had a woman tell me off for 25 minutes about an appt that she hadn't heard anything about yet. Referred over 6 months previously. Given the fact I only have 10 mins per appt, was doing an adhoc locum shift and the referral had been sent who's fault is it that she was having a tough time??! Broken system that is not fit for purpose.

This is appalling.

All medical staff salaries need to increase by the rate of inflation.

London weighting needs to be increased to mirror the increased cost of living.

Subsidised housing in very expensive areas.

The rotation system needs to be overhauled so that staff have consistency.

Arrangements for childcare need to be in place.
Better Leave arrangements so leave can be taken when requested.

This government need to be booted out and we need to get behind our medics. We need them and when we need them most they will have gone.

Don't forget due to doctors in training having to move around every 6-12 months, it's very rare for junior doctors (remember these are usually people in their late 20s to late 30s) to be eligible for shared parental leave. This is where the gender pay gap starts and perpetuates.

My friend is taking a year off from her training to do locum work - where she can earn a few thousand £ per week. The pay discrepancy is crazy.

That's not correct regarding SPL. Although some medical staffing need reminding of it, the NHS counts as a single employer even if you move to different Trusts (the exception is if you have been locumming during the period that establishes entitlement). This has been established under the national T&Cs.

BMA advice

Mm I absolutely love Anaesthetics but I'm not sure I'd do it again with hindsight. When I'm getting building quotes for 4d work that cost me 3x full months take home pay or when I was looking at a cleaner as my life's such a mess and they're asking more than my hourly rate. I can see why there's going to be noone left. Certainly wouldn't encourage anyone into it anymore

Yep sworn at, spat at. Got hit round the back of the head by a guy I'd just anaesthetised with his plaster cast, despite being under arrest and thr police saying "don't do that". Till he properly kicked off and got cuffed