Junior Doctor Strike - Good For Them??

[Prudie]

I'm open to be educated here but doctors on strike today and asking for a 35% pay increase. My question is really that nearly 70% of the country are supporting their action. Why is it so popular. Is it because we think they deserve such an increase or is it partly to support any group that helps to topple the government?

[naomi24]

// nearly 70% of the country are supporting their action. //

Who says? I think they should be ashamed of themselves. There is no doubt they will have blood on their hands.

[Prudie]

I have the day off and I'm watching breakfast TV. According to their poll up to 74% now.

[douglas9401]

Years at university then a reported £14 per hour?

Something needs looking at. Maybe divert a little of the Ukraine cash to fund it in the medium term.

[david small]

I would suggest that 70% of the country consider this disgraceful situation abhorrent.

[drmorgans]

I think people believe that the government has a strategy to underfund the NHS and replace it with some form of insurance-based "medicare". One element of this is to underpay staff so they leave and are replaced by (expensive) temporary workers and services degrade. People are training as doctors then going abroad or into the private sector. The government can then say the only way we can continue is if there is a radical change to way the NHS is funded. That's what the lady on the bus told me anyway.

[theshedman]

I looked at the pay of £14 an hour and was in agreement with them but since I have seen a report where not very many if any actually get that amount. I am open for someone to show I am wrong on this. The report I saw showed this,

"In fact, it represents the hourly basic pay for the lowest-ranked doctors, who make up about 11% of junior doctors in general.

It would also only apply to doctors who receive no pay at higher rates, for instance for working nights or weekends. And it spreads their annual salary across every week of the year, including the roughly seven weeks that these doctors receive as paid time off—as a result the hourly pay includes pay for some hours when doctors are not working.

In practice it is likely that very few junior doctors, if any at all, are paid £14.09 for each hour of work that they are required to do."

It also shows they get paid sick pay which many companies don't pay these days. If this is the case why don't the reporters ask those on the picket lines these questions if it is correct.

[bobbinwales]

I think the £14 an hour figure comes from a creative number cruncher and may not stand up to scrutiny. Someone claimed yesterday these doctors are having to choose between eating and heating. No mention of food banks yet but we'll hear it.
They probably should get a rise to help retention .... but how come there only just asking for a 35% rise to catch up on last 10 years.

[douglas9401]

Now I know you don't mean that their holidays should be unpaid, shedman, and I note the lack of figures from the report you've seen.

Is there any further info please?

[MissTerious2]

I agree David. Personally, I havent spoken to anybody yet who supports them.

Personally, however, many years spent at university doesn't entitle anybody to what they get paid, in any profession, until they prove their worth!
I am appalled.

[bobbinwales]

Sorry the shedma...yours weren't there when I typed mine.
Am sure I seem something before that shows they earn far more than £14 an hour for hours worked. Does it also include standbytime or exclude extra shift payments they get....I just remember it was debunked compleyely

[davebro]

damn savages - sack the lot & invite them to re-apply

[drmorgans]

Sacked? They should be sent to the colonies. Oops. Isn't that what they're doing, for better pay and conditions.

[naomi24]

I've no objection to them asking for more money ... but 35%? Like the rest of the current industrial action, this is political. I don't feel sorry for them now - and I won't feel sorry for them when they finally get the government they deserve.

[bobbinwales]

Even if 90% chose to reapply we'd still be short of junior doctors by along way davebro.
The term is misleading though....some ' junior 'doctors have many years experience and earn £1000 aweek.

[douglas9401]

You're probably all correct, doctors should be kept undervalued, tired and unkempt.
The groggier the better I say.

Of course when YOU all present with a problem opinions may change.

[bobbinwales]

It's not political 9n the sense of anti tory except maybe for some leaders....its opprtunistic

[Prudie]

It's always difficult to add definitive links or honests stats but it was raised and asked on the picket line that the £14 figure applies to only about 10% if any of them. As for University I find that an irrelevance, nearly everybody goes nowadays.

[bobbinwales]

Are these different types of doctors to the ones who can afford to retire early or were exceeding 1 million pension cap....so governments trying to encourage them to stay by removing pension cap

[theshedman]

douglas, I have seen it in a few places but the one I showed was from the site below. I don't know how true it is but I just think a reporter ought to ask if they are actually getting the amount they say on the placards. I have worked in places where there was no difference to money for night shifts but it was the job I picked to do. I do agree with a fair pay for a job but all facts should be available.

https://fullfact.org/health/bma-junior-doctors-hourly-pay/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20it%20represents%20the,for%20working%20nights%20or%20weekends.

[drmorgans]

A junior doctor will probably earn around £30,000 in their first year after qualifying, not including other payments. This will rise to £40-50,000 when they start their specialist training. Prior to this they will have trained for around 8 years.