Thread by @hasyourregtried

To clear things up for the anti-junior doctor brigade:

1. We are not allowed to do private work until we are consultants.

2. We fund our mandatory exams and professional fees/registration ourselves.

3. We have a significant amount of responsibility at ALL stages of post grad work, we deserve appropriate pay for it.

4. Things change over time. We can never know how bad things are from the outside, even whilst applying for or at medical school.

5. If we all leave in search of better pay and conditions, who will staff the NHS? I am sure those criticising doctors for wanting better pay will be the first to complain when there's nobody left to treat them.

6. We do not get paid extra for working bank hols. inc. Xmas/NY

7. Potential earnings are NOT an excuse to endure awful working conditions/pay for long periods of time.

8. Most of us actually enjoy our job - we do not want to find other careers, because medicine can be very enjoyable and rewarding. We want to stay and be appreciated.

9. It is a job. It's not a vocation. It's not a calling. We're not heroes. We can be committed and want to be paid appropriately for the job. Wanting better pay does not call into question our commitment.

10. Your ignorance about doctors pay does not mean we are lying about it.

11. A healthy population means a health economy. The NHS might not make money directly, but the knock on effects for the country are massive.

12. 'If you're not happy about the pay, do something about it'. We are. We are going to strike.

Why should working in healthcare mean poor pay? We have trained for years at university. At a postgraduate level, we work full time AND study for specialty exams, to prepare for senior roles and consultant life. We are responsibly for people's lives throughout.

I cannot wait for the voting to open for #FullPayRestoration. We deserve to feel valued, and we deserve to be paid like the skilled professionals we are.