Junior Doctors Reject Govt's Contract Deal

[naomi24]

//The verdict is a blow to the BMA, as it had encouraged its junior doctors to agree to the new contract.//

http://news.sky.com/story/1721965/junior-doctors-reject-govts-contract-deal

Justified or not?

[Svejk]

I'd be happy if they did a bit during the week, minty. ;-)

[murraymints]

indeed Sve !!..it was shocking how standards dropped over weekends all the times dad was in hossie...no consultants..surgical staff very scarce...scanners x rays etc impossible....even the tea trolley was not there !! seems one simply cannot be ill of a weekend...

[slaney]

A lot of misunderstanding here.
The doctors have been offered first a 13% and now an 11% increase in basic pay, but this is offset by a substantial reduction in contracted OOH - out of hours pay.
When NHS employers and the BMA first agreed to talks on the new contract it was agreed that is was to be cost neutral, and the overall pay envelope would be the same. Some JDs would get paid more, but those in specialities such as A&E anaesthetics intensive care etc would get less, which makes no sense at all.

Conflating a 7day NHS with the JD contract was bewildering as junior doctors already work weekends up to the maximum allowed by law.

What you should really be afraid of at the moment are rota gaps - I have heard in the last few days of doctors working 24 hr shifts to cover gaps. There are simply not enough junior doctors to do the work, and hospitals are struggling.

I said goodbye to youngest son last month as he returned to a anaesthetic job in Sydney. More than 50% of the department are from the UK.

The head of the Australian Medical Association, a neurosurgeon, says the NHS does not value or look after its junior doctors.

[Baldric]

/// the NHS does not value or look after its junior doctors. ///

It's just as well the Socialist Workers Party do then.

[slaney]

Just giving an informed outsider's view Baldric
http://www.workpermit.com/news/2015-11-25/australian-skilled-immigration-uk-doctors-leaving-for-australia

[Baldric]

My Wife having worked her way up through the system, Ward Sister etc, is a recently retired NHS Administrator, and our long term house guest, a Doctor in her 40's both have very low opinions of todays somewhat precious JDs.

[slaney]

I will counter that anecdote Baldric with my own anecdote that all the junior doctors I have met on acute wards - three admissions in three years - have been excellent.
As a matter of interest does your doctor friend have junior doctors working for her/with her?

[anneasquith]

I see no resolution to this dispute until the health secretary resigns/reassigned a new position . the doctors have lost any faith they May have had in him.

[anneasquith]

Slaney ,Baldric's friend is a therapist. So maybe no junior staff " under her "

[slaney]

Ahh - I see - thanks.

[Baldric]

They are not questioning their skills just their attitudes.
She has just had a move from S/London to E/Kent (hence staying with us) to open a new clinic, she's a Therapist, atm the HA are unsure which Hospital to base her in so no she doesn't.

[Svejk]

Of course, we must remember, that by working abroad, doctors, or anyone else come to that, avoid repaying their tuition fees. Personally, I don't think doctors and other vital workers should be subject to those fees but that's a different tread.