The Junior Doctors Dispute

I think we are all going off the beaten track here..... the main dispute is working over the weekends and the possibility of loosing pay (which I doubt very much) .. like the rest of us they will get time off... on rota in the week, so pretty much the same as a normal working week! And having looked up what they will get to me seems to be fair! Overtime after 9pm WOW! I wish I was a Junior Doctor !

We all have the right to take legal industrial action if we feel it necessary. Agree

We all also have the right to choose our career path, even if the chosen career happens to pay well. Agree... but then more pay comes with more responsibility and like me more hours...and that is part and parcel of the chosen career, going to university and taking the higher end of the income

Doctors are not slaves. Agree, but we are not talking doctors here, we are talking 'juniors' doctors who are under supervision.

We don't own them. Agree, as above

Sure we own the nhs, and should expect the nhs to serve us, Agree

but we don't own the people that staff it. Agree, but 'the people' chose their career path and get paid handsomely, with lots of benefits that a lot of other companies don't offer... which makes it even more appealing

If the staff feel compelled to down tools, the management (the government on our behalf) have a duty to ensure continuity of service by whatever means. Agree, however, Junior Doctors, think they are worse off than others and they need to get in the real world, at junior level they are not left with life or death decisions, they are supervised, trained and nurtured.... this whole episode is because they feel they are beyond working weekends!

It looks to me very much like they are consistently failing. Agree, the NHS is stretched, but what industry today isn't? and how many people get treated that don't pay into the NHS?

In any other situation, if the staff were unhappy, it would be right to judge the management. This is no different. Agree, however other industries would sack their staff should they even think about striking! and you may think this in todays society as being ludicrous, but it's real!

 

Anyway.... having said what I have said..... It is best that I leave this forum as upset other members... which I have no desire to

I am in an industry which requires similar demands to that of a Junior Doctor... lets face it ...they are on strike for working weekends... and this is normal in my working week no extra pay, no overtime, but equal days off in the week.

So I shall wish you all well with your thoughts on the matter and retire to bed as its been a very, very long day

 

Only the junior doctors are going on strike. If you have a life threatening situation, it would most likely be the more senior doctors, consultants and nurses that work to save you.

As to the fire brigade, while I too have the utmost respect for them, it is not true to say they always provide cover. I remember seeing the 'green goddesses' going about when the army had to use their limited fire service capabilities when the fire brigade went on strike. That was only about 10 or 15 years ago.

 

You're defo not upsetting me...I agree with everything you're saying. Carry on! I haven't had 3 months of seeing this in action like yourself AB, I've had over 8 years of it. I'd be here all day if I catalogued the disgraceful goings on we've been subjected to. They need to get back to work and pronto.

 

It's my understanding that consultants will be drafted in from other departments to provide emergency cover.

 

You're not upsetting me either. We all have different opinions based on different experiences, and it is only by sharing those opinions that we each become a little bit wiser.

 

Thanks for that Clueless, so anyone but me is sharing opinions, whereas I'm just being given clicks on the " disagree " button.

 

You little €$¥@#& , it's a good job I love you

 

Just asking the question?
When they talk about hours worked by doctors are they actually hours worked, or are they hours on call.
I'm just wondering, because I dont work anything like some of the hours that are stated, but, when I am working, I'm actually working, I dont think I could keep up some of those hours.

I've had the odd occasion to be in A&E at night and you can wait a fair time before a doctor shows, so just wondering if they are on call, and waiting for the commercials to come on, before getting mobile.

As to the wards, dont think you see much in the way of a doctor after about 3pm until 9.30 the next day, unless there is an emergency.

 

I dont think its actually possible to work 16 hours and then be on call.

I know someone who works for the gas company and he has worked, "On call" for over 40 yrs.

Notches up lots of hours, but its mostly waiting, with spurts of activity.

 

Dont think I could be on my feet 16 hours and then be on call, if that is what is going on they need to get a grip of who is sorting out the rotas.


And last I heard, there is only 24 hrs in a day, so 26 hrs means the second day was a doddle

Never been in a job where you are allowed to actually sit down, so maybe that has some bearing