Some facts about NHS Doctors' strikes - (UK, Health, NHS).

The ongoing crises in the NHS are littered with claims, counterclaims and plain media disinformation.

Many in the government, as well as their equally extreme right wing press, repeatedly call striking Doctors such names as "Greedy", "Scum" and even "Murderers". The reason for the strikes though, are not all about the money, although it is a BIG part of the dispute.

The FACT that Consultants are striking at all, is due to their Junior collegues (strangley named as "Junior Doctors"), striking for more pay and better working conditions, This justified action, as will be seen, means that Consultants are covering the shifts whilst their colleagues strike. Unsurprisingly, that is leading to burnout among Consultants as they attempt to double up on their workload, in an attempt to provide an adequate level of patient care.

Presumably, with the government refusing to meet with striking Junior Doctors, and offer them better than a derisory pay deal, Health Secretary Barclay and Prime Minister Sunak hoped that Consultants would get fed up with their colleagues. Instead, the Consultants voted to pile pressure on the government, by organising a series of strikes themselves, and recently, these have coincided with Junior Doctors strikes.

So, lets take a look at what each of the groups currently earn:

A newly qualified Junior Doctor earns £32,300 PA basic. Under the BMA calculations, this equates to £15.53 per hour. At the top of the range (ie raises through experience), the top salary becomes £65,000, but that is after many years of post qualification, experience.

Junior Doctors also have the opportunity to progress through training, to Consultant. This is where their salaries can increase remarkably (but not at the level of many overseas colleagues). A trainee Consultant earns around £84k PA a qualified Consultant's salary falls between around £96,000 PA  and £126,000 PA, depending on experience and specialism. 

Consultants are on strike because their responisbility to patients, mean that they cover not only their own shifts, but those of their junior colleagues as they seek better recognition for their work.

Government rhetoric, especially the one about "high, 6 figure salaries" is in fact a myth. That is why, as high numbers of professional leave the NHS, those that train up to replace them, are also likely to leave, once fully qualified, and see opportunities to do so.

The Conservative government fail to recognise this trend.

Recently, an Australian Healthcare recruiter has established itself in the UK and is tempting our Consultants away with offers of *HUGE salaries, and conditions that can only be dreamed about in the NHS. Here are some comparative examples of those offers:

Consultant in Emergency Medicine - Victoria - Salary to Au$470k (£244k)

Consultant Anaesthetist - QLD - Salary Up to Au$534k  (£277k) PLUS O/C PLUS Other

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist - N. Territory - Salary to Au$600k (£312k)

Consultant Gastroenterologist - QLD - Salary Au$460k - Au$535k (£239k - £278k)  + 

Consultant Anaesthetist - QLD - Salary to Au$637k (£331k) + FREE rental housing

Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist - WA - Salary to Au$477k (£248k)

Private Practice Neurology FRACP - Movement Disorders - VIC - Salary to Au$1M (520k)

Compare THOSE numbers to the ones quoted earlier - ie £96k - £126k.

Yet this government, through it's neglect of public health, allows this brain drain to go ahead, unchallenged.

It's time for a change of government, to give these professionals who save lives, more than the average salary of an MP in the UK parliament!

*ALL Salary conversions subject to currency exchange rates. The were calculated on 12/10/2023.