Resident doctors have good reason to strike over pay
I write in response to the letter from senior clinicians urging resident doctors to vote against strike action (8 June). During my 22-year career we have seen fundamental changes in medical training, including the introduction of tuition fees for medical school, loss of free accommodation for first-year doctors, the lack of expansion in training numbers, and pay erosion over 15 years.
This has left many resident doctors with crippling debt on graduation, spiralling costs of training, deteriorating pay, and the prospect of unemployment. I, and the authors of the letter, were fortunate enough not to face such hardships during training.
Hence I urge colleagues not to influence the negotiations between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government regarding resident doctors' pay. A mandate for strike action is a strong negotiating position, and I for one welcome productive discussions between the government and the BMA to reach a fair settlement. If senior clinicians cannot be supportive of our resident doctors, I suggest that they sit on their hands (with regard to writing letters) and bite their lip.Dr Ajay M VermaKettering, Northamptonshire
A group of medical professionals write urging resident doctor colleagues to vote against proposed strike action. They cite the Hippocratic oath. They appear to overlook the daily flouting of the oath by colleagues who are active in the systems of American‑accountable care that have replaced a National Health Service in England.
In these, 'first do no harm' appears to have been replaced by 'first protect the bottom line'. The unrest among health workers is not merely about pay; it is about the degradation of an entire public service and its subservience to corporate interests, many of them American.
Let's have impassioned letters urging the expulsion of Palantir and co and a return to the principles of Bevan rather than BlackRock. It is untrue to say 'there is no spare money'. The money simply goes into the wrong pockets.Kevin Donovan Birkenhead, Merseyside
The six senior doctors who wrote to you are key among those responsible for allowing the NHS to become such an unpleasant work environment for training doctors. As Wes Streeting so eloquently pointed out, the NHS treats training doctors 'like crap'. A lot could be done to improve the working lives of doctors – simply telling them not to strike is unhelpful and suggests indifference to the challenges they face. Declared interest: parent of two resident doctors.Stuart EvansMonmouth
I am a former NHS GP now living and working in Canada. I read with interest that senior doctors recommend junior doctors don't strike. Would these be senior doctors who had their university education paid for by the state, then had their hospital accommodation paid for by the state, and then enjoyed a fixed benefit pension that kicked in at age 60 (for most of their careers)? Society looked after them well. Could it be possible that today's resident doctors have a different point of view for a reason?
I suppose the other thing to say is that fixing morale in the NHS and deciding where society spends its money is outside the remit of the doctor. But fixing the NHS is the government's prerogative. Tom NewthNelson, British Columbia, Canada
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Toilet paper over or under? Scientist FINALLY settles the debate - so, do you agree with their method?
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'To lose 0.5kg (1lb) per week, you need to be in a 500-calorie deficit daily. 'To lose 1kg per week, you need to be in a 1,000-calorie deficit. 'Without a calorie deficit, you will not lose weight and if you don't lose the fat, you won't see your abs. It's that simple.' But don't turn to crash or fad diets, or neglect vital nutrients. 'Crash dieting, which often encourages very low calorie intake, or ignoring your protein intake are bad moves. 'You need protein to maintain or build the muscle that helps keep your metabolism higher, and drastic diets that look nothing like your usual eating habits rarely work in the long run. They're too big of a shock and too tough to sustain. 'You're better off making gradual changes to your regular eating habits - like swapping a high-carb meal for a lean protein and veggie combo. 'Aim for whole foods (lean proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, and plenty of veg), salads, and avoid piling on extra oils or breads at restaurants. 'This approach, coupled with consistent exercise, promotes sustained fat loss. Research confirms that combining diet and exercise is the best strategy.' A study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that people who exercised and dieted at the same time lost 20 per cent more fat compared to those who dieted alone. 'Remember: you won't lose love handles just by working the muscles,' Monty says. 'You have to create a calorie deficit through diet, too. 'There's no shortcut around it - eat fewer calories than you burn, and you'll start seeing your waist tighten up and your clothes start fitting better.'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
'We are running the Leeds 10k in memory of loved ones'
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