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We junior doctors are fighting to keep the NHS safe and free We junior doctors are fighting to keep the NHS safe and free
(about 3 hours later)
For the first time in 40 years, the medical profession is considering full industrial action. It’s a daunting prospect: it isn’t in our nature and we don’t want to strike, but we may have no choice. As NHS demands have risen, doctors and other frontline staff have sacrificed much to hold it together.For the first time in 40 years, the medical profession is considering full industrial action. It’s a daunting prospect: it isn’t in our nature and we don’t want to strike, but we may have no choice. As NHS demands have risen, doctors and other frontline staff have sacrificed much to hold it together.
Though doctors are better paid in the private sector, we tolerated a pay cut in real terms to keep British healthcare free. For that, we were rewarded with worsening work conditions and admonishment in the media. Consequently, morale in the profession has long festered into dejection, finally brewing up the fury that has led to the protests across the country.Though doctors are better paid in the private sector, we tolerated a pay cut in real terms to keep British healthcare free. For that, we were rewarded with worsening work conditions and admonishment in the media. Consequently, morale in the profession has long festered into dejection, finally brewing up the fury that has led to the protests across the country.
Imagine you’ve dedicated your life to your work, dug yourself deep into debt, worked yourself to exhaustion, forgone your own needs for those of others, handled heart-breaking and unnerving decisions most others couldn’t. Then, a politician who has neither experience nor understanding of what you do comes along after his six-week holiday, and deems you lazy, overpaid and lacking in vocation. He declares that you must work more for less, and takes all the most frightening aspects of your work and worsens them while he enjoys an 11% pay rise and reduced hours.Imagine you’ve dedicated your life to your work, dug yourself deep into debt, worked yourself to exhaustion, forgone your own needs for those of others, handled heart-breaking and unnerving decisions most others couldn’t. Then, a politician who has neither experience nor understanding of what you do comes along after his six-week holiday, and deems you lazy, overpaid and lacking in vocation. He declares that you must work more for less, and takes all the most frightening aspects of your work and worsens them while he enjoys an 11% pay rise and reduced hours.
Much like my patients deserve a good doctor, I deserve an employer who recognises the burnout to which I am vulnerableMuch like my patients deserve a good doctor, I deserve an employer who recognises the burnout to which I am vulnerable
Healthcare is a difficult business. The morbid economy of treating people on the basis of who can afford treatment is precisely why the NHS was formed. However, the population changed, and needs and expectations changed. We now have an ageing population whose debilitating conditions are well-managed, lengthening life expectancy. This is an achievement to be proud of, but it does lead to complex requirements for further medical management and social care.Healthcare is a difficult business. The morbid economy of treating people on the basis of who can afford treatment is precisely why the NHS was formed. However, the population changed, and needs and expectations changed. We now have an ageing population whose debilitating conditions are well-managed, lengthening life expectancy. This is an achievement to be proud of, but it does lead to complex requirements for further medical management and social care.
Costs of inflation factor in, too: an ITU bed costs £2,000 per night, an A&E visit costs £124 before medical assessment, new treatments are increasingly expensive. We’re treating more people every year, and costs rise. However, the NHS has experienced ongoing stripping of its funds and services, as well as expensive and frequent administrative reforms. The new junior doctor contract is the latest in a long line of changes that will cost the NHS more than it saves.Costs of inflation factor in, too: an ITU bed costs £2,000 per night, an A&E visit costs £124 before medical assessment, new treatments are increasingly expensive. We’re treating more people every year, and costs rise. However, the NHS has experienced ongoing stripping of its funds and services, as well as expensive and frequent administrative reforms. The new junior doctor contract is the latest in a long line of changes that will cost the NHS more than it saves.
The seven-day NHS soundbite was a launchpad for the cost-cutting exercise that this contract is. Healthcare has required more staff for years; existing numbers can barely cope with the workload, staying hours after their shifts to work for free. We already possess a 24/7 emergency NHS, but the promised seven-day elective service NHS requires up to 40% more staff.The seven-day NHS soundbite was a launchpad for the cost-cutting exercise that this contract is. Healthcare has required more staff for years; existing numbers can barely cope with the workload, staying hours after their shifts to work for free. We already possess a 24/7 emergency NHS, but the promised seven-day elective service NHS requires up to 40% more staff.
Related: Junior doctors' strike receives overwhelming support, poll showsRelated: Junior doctors' strike receives overwhelming support, poll shows
The fair course of action is to hire more doctors to increase the number of hours worked by doctors in the NHS. The entrepreneur’s solution is to reduce the cost of a doctor’s time – the pay rate – so that the NHS Employers can afford more of it. What else is the point of stretching the standard working week from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, to 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, insidiously socialising antisocial hours?The fair course of action is to hire more doctors to increase the number of hours worked by doctors in the NHS. The entrepreneur’s solution is to reduce the cost of a doctor’s time – the pay rate – so that the NHS Employers can afford more of it. What else is the point of stretching the standard working week from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, to 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, insidiously socialising antisocial hours?
In addition, the contract removes safeguards that were put in place to stop hospitals working doctors to such exhaustion that they died on their journey home. It penalises us for undertaking research to contribute to healthcare advancements. It penalises doctors who take time out to work for charities such as Médecins Sans Frontières. It penalises female doctors for choosing to have families. It’s all so industrial; it’s as if they’ve forgotten that we’re human.In addition, the contract removes safeguards that were put in place to stop hospitals working doctors to such exhaustion that they died on their journey home. It penalises us for undertaking research to contribute to healthcare advancements. It penalises doctors who take time out to work for charities such as Médecins Sans Frontières. It penalises female doctors for choosing to have families. It’s all so industrial; it’s as if they’ve forgotten that we’re human.
Doctors’ rotas are often unforgiving, and switching between day, twilight and night shifts every other day is severe. We burn out, we make mistakes, and even the thought of it is a terrible thing to carry home at the end of the day. We decided to become doctors to help people, and it is unacceptable that we’re being wilfully put in a position that not only compromises our mental and physical wellbeing, but also that of our patients. Already, we work 12-day stretches littered with 13-hour shifts, constantly taking responsibility for other people’s lives.Doctors’ rotas are often unforgiving, and switching between day, twilight and night shifts every other day is severe. We burn out, we make mistakes, and even the thought of it is a terrible thing to carry home at the end of the day. We decided to become doctors to help people, and it is unacceptable that we’re being wilfully put in a position that not only compromises our mental and physical wellbeing, but also that of our patients. Already, we work 12-day stretches littered with 13-hour shifts, constantly taking responsibility for other people’s lives.
Related: Junior doctors – 'no one understands the level of responsibility we have'Related: Junior doctors – 'no one understands the level of responsibility we have'
We knew what we were getting into. However, nobody likes to tell a 20-year-old they are dying. Nobody likes realising their patient’s treatment is failing. Nobody likes to tell their family member, their child, that again, they can’t make it to the birthday, wedding, farewell or funeral. It’s emotionally wrecking. Now we stand at a point of increasing the worst parts of our job, and reducing that which parries it.We knew what we were getting into. However, nobody likes to tell a 20-year-old they are dying. Nobody likes realising their patient’s treatment is failing. Nobody likes to tell their family member, their child, that again, they can’t make it to the birthday, wedding, farewell or funeral. It’s emotionally wrecking. Now we stand at a point of increasing the worst parts of our job, and reducing that which parries it.
I love my work, so much that all the awful things that happen in it are worth the good things and I try to give my very best. However, much like my patients deserve a good, capable doctor, I deserve an employer who recognises the burnout to which I am vulnerable. My patients and I deserve better than being forced to be complicit in a contract that endangers us both.I love my work, so much that all the awful things that happen in it are worth the good things and I try to give my very best. However, much like my patients deserve a good, capable doctor, I deserve an employer who recognises the burnout to which I am vulnerable. My patients and I deserve better than being forced to be complicit in a contract that endangers us both.
The junior doctor contract and the protest against it is about cost. It is about the cost to patient safety, and it’s about what it will cost the British public if the health service is broken this way. We’re fighting to keep the NHS safe, to keep it free. The junior doctor contract and the protest against it are about cost. It is about the cost to patient safety, and it’s about what it will cost the British public if the health service is broken this way. We’re fighting to keep the NHS safe, to keep it free.
Please join us, show your support: 17 October 2015, 2pm, Waterloo Place, London.Please join us, show your support: 17 October 2015, 2pm, Waterloo Place, London.
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