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I was worried about a full junior doctors' strike, but it has to be done I was worried about a full junior doctors' strike, but it has to be done
(4 months later)
“Left below knee amputation” is what I had written on the consent form. I asked my patient to sign it with a heavy heart; she was only 45 years old and had been through so much to get to this point. She looked up at me tearfully and said, “I trust you, I know this is for the best”. She then signed the consent form.“Left below knee amputation” is what I had written on the consent form. I asked my patient to sign it with a heavy heart; she was only 45 years old and had been through so much to get to this point. She looked up at me tearfully and said, “I trust you, I know this is for the best”. She then signed the consent form.
Related: Healthcare staff, how do you feel about an all-out junior doctors' strike?
Over the last three months, she had suffered three attempts to return the blood supply to her leg but all had failed. She was exhausted. Her leg was now toxic and making the rest of her unwell. She was a shadow of her former self, drowsy and slumped over in her chair every morning because of the toxins and painkillers she had to take. Her leg was now killing her and it was time to stop trying to save it, but instead, amputate it in order to save her. We have a mantra in my surgical specialty: “There’s no point trying to save the leg, if you end up killing the patient”. Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, should perhaps take heed. The junior doctors’ contract that is to be imposed in August is toxic and will damage the NHS.Over the last three months, she had suffered three attempts to return the blood supply to her leg but all had failed. She was exhausted. Her leg was now toxic and making the rest of her unwell. She was a shadow of her former self, drowsy and slumped over in her chair every morning because of the toxins and painkillers she had to take. Her leg was now killing her and it was time to stop trying to save it, but instead, amputate it in order to save her. We have a mantra in my surgical specialty: “There’s no point trying to save the leg, if you end up killing the patient”. Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, should perhaps take heed. The junior doctors’ contract that is to be imposed in August is toxic and will damage the NHS.
In the last few months it has become commonplace to hear and see my colleagues on the news, social media, on the streets and even pleading to the wife of the president of the US to help us. In the last two weeks there has been a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week vigil outside the Department of Health in a bid to get Hunt to engage with the nation’s doctors. On 26 April, the NHS will see the first-ever full walkout by junior doctors. This represents unprecedented times and a watershed moment for the NHS and for the nation.In the last few months it has become commonplace to hear and see my colleagues on the news, social media, on the streets and even pleading to the wife of the president of the US to help us. In the last two weeks there has been a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week vigil outside the Department of Health in a bid to get Hunt to engage with the nation’s doctors. On 26 April, the NHS will see the first-ever full walkout by junior doctors. This represents unprecedented times and a watershed moment for the NHS and for the nation.
What is this over? The health secretary would have you believe it’s about Saturday pay. We’re getting a 13.5% pay rise, but a junior doctor has resigned live on TV. If you were getting a pay rise, would you proceed to the biggest industrial action in the history of the NHS for no reason? There’s something bigger going on here than pay.What is this over? The health secretary would have you believe it’s about Saturday pay. We’re getting a 13.5% pay rise, but a junior doctor has resigned live on TV. If you were getting a pay rise, would you proceed to the biggest industrial action in the history of the NHS for no reason? There’s something bigger going on here than pay.
There is already a seven-day emergency service in the NHS and the contract aims to extend five days of planned elective services so they are also provided on weekends. OECD data shows that we are 26,500 doctors behind the European average at the starting gate. That’s not to mention the 47,000 nurses. There is already a recruitment crisis.There is already a seven-day emergency service in the NHS and the contract aims to extend five days of planned elective services so they are also provided on weekends. OECD data shows that we are 26,500 doctors behind the European average at the starting gate. That’s not to mention the 47,000 nurses. There is already a recruitment crisis.
The contract is discriminatory against females – those with disabilities, those who work part-time and those who are caregivers, particularly those whose partners are also doctors. It will also have a significant and detrimental impact on doctors’ training. Life will become unsustainable for many under this contract, driving even more to find work abroad. More importantly, we don’t have the staffing or resources to provide seven days of non-urgent services safely. This government wants to increase non-urgent service provision at weekends on the back of a manifesto promise they must deliver at all costs. The cost, I would argue, will be the wellbeing of the NHS and all that it represents – social equality and healthcare provision regardless of a patient’s financial situation.The contract is discriminatory against females – those with disabilities, those who work part-time and those who are caregivers, particularly those whose partners are also doctors. It will also have a significant and detrimental impact on doctors’ training. Life will become unsustainable for many under this contract, driving even more to find work abroad. More importantly, we don’t have the staffing or resources to provide seven days of non-urgent services safely. This government wants to increase non-urgent service provision at weekends on the back of a manifesto promise they must deliver at all costs. The cost, I would argue, will be the wellbeing of the NHS and all that it represents – social equality and healthcare provision regardless of a patient’s financial situation.
The full walkout can’t go ahead without the support of our body of more than 70,000 consultants, GPs and specialist nurses who will all be stepping in. I felt uncomfortable with the announcement of a full walkout by the BMA but was soon reassured by my consultants who said: “If we’re doing this, let’s do it properly. I don’t want to see a single one of you at work”. In turn, my consultants then proceeded to volunteer themselves to take on all of the most junior roles and perform all the jobs we would never dare ask them to do. They all sat patiently as we briefed them on the IT systems and procedures they will need.The full walkout can’t go ahead without the support of our body of more than 70,000 consultants, GPs and specialist nurses who will all be stepping in. I felt uncomfortable with the announcement of a full walkout by the BMA but was soon reassured by my consultants who said: “If we’re doing this, let’s do it properly. I don’t want to see a single one of you at work”. In turn, my consultants then proceeded to volunteer themselves to take on all of the most junior roles and perform all the jobs we would never dare ask them to do. They all sat patiently as we briefed them on the IT systems and procedures they will need.
This full walkout represents so much more than 54,000 junior doctors protesting. It represents solidarity and unity like never before between the whole of the NHS workforce. The workforce is trying to tell Hunt that imposition of this contract is too toxic for the health service to survive.This full walkout represents so much more than 54,000 junior doctors protesting. It represents solidarity and unity like never before between the whole of the NHS workforce. The workforce is trying to tell Hunt that imposition of this contract is too toxic for the health service to survive.
This is a watershed moment in healthcare history worldwide. Our health secretary has a window of opportunity to stop what is toxic and remove imposition of a contract based on weak, or no, evidence. We are asking him to pause, and for the public to trust us, because ultimately, we are asking Hunt to do what we feel is right – to save an NHS which is suffering and which we hope is still able to survive.This is a watershed moment in healthcare history worldwide. Our health secretary has a window of opportunity to stop what is toxic and remove imposition of a contract based on weak, or no, evidence. We are asking him to pause, and for the public to trust us, because ultimately, we are asking Hunt to do what we feel is right – to save an NHS which is suffering and which we hope is still able to survive.
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