It is undisputed that junior doctors already work very long hours including nightshifts and weekend work. They have tremendous responsibility. Many of them already feel they are undervalued, abused and even at breaking point. (the suicide rate for female Junior Doctors is currently twice the national average). I have no doubt these very bright, caring and diligent young people are totally sincere and certainly have a full grasp of the realities of the position they find themselves in. (Mr Hunt Junior Doctors are too bright to be hoodwinked by you and it shows your contempt for their intellect when you repeatedly claim their own professional organisation - the BMA are misrepresenting them and what you are trying to impose on them).
In effect what Jeremy Hunt is trying to force through is for junior doctors to do more out-of-hours shifts for less money and at the same time he wants to water down the protection that guards them from being required to work dangerous and immoral numbers of hours (which the junior Doctors consider is unsafe for patients in their care).
One Junior Doctor spokesperson used this analogy. "Currently there is a very thin layer of jam covering the piece of toast. Jeremy Hunt wants to spread the same amount of jam but make it cover two pieces of toast". The BMA and Junior Doctors are adamant that they cannot safely do more. Their maximum hours has to remain safeguarded by a system that has teeth. They also feel (and rightly so) that given that they are some of our brightest, most qualified and hard working young people that they are being undervalued and underpaid for what they do and the responsibilities they carry. Why should they do more for less when they already do so much. They are right in my view.
The Government have this wrong. They should be bolstering this group of people - not undermining them. I support their industrial action stance 100% and so should the public if they care about the future of the NHS.
The Government need to find savings elsewhere. If it was me in charge - one area I would be focusing on is the user public. Many abuse the system or take little or no responsibility in attempting to maintain good health. The public attitude to binge drinking has to change for instance. It is totally anti social and costs the NHS millions every week in picking up the pieces. It is wrong to attack the doctors and nurses that already trying so hard to maintain this vital but overwhelmed service.
In effect what Jeremy Hunt is trying to force through is for junior doctors to do more out-of-hours shifts for less money and at the same time he wants to water down the protection that guards them from being required to work dangerous and immoral numbers of hours (which the junior Doctors consider is unsafe for patients in their care).
One Junior Doctor spokesperson used this analogy. "Currently there is a very thin layer of jam covering the piece of toast. Jeremy Hunt wants to spread the same amount of jam but make it cover two pieces of toast". The BMA and Junior Doctors are adamant that they cannot safely do more. Their maximum hours has to remain safeguarded by a system that has teeth. They also feel (and rightly so) that given that they are some of our brightest, most qualified and hard working young people that they are being undervalued and underpaid for what they do and the responsibilities they carry. Why should they do more for less when they already do so much. They are right in my view.
The Government have this wrong. They should be bolstering this group of people - not undermining them. I support their industrial action stance 100% and so should the public if they care about the future of the NHS.
The Government need to find savings elsewhere. If it was me in charge - one area I would be focusing on is the user public. Many abuse the system or take little or no responsibility in attempting to maintain good health. The public attitude to binge drinking has to change for instance. It is totally anti social and costs the NHS millions every week in picking up the pieces. It is wrong to attack the doctors and nurses that already trying so hard to maintain this vital but overwhelmed service.
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