Thread by @RobLaurensonD4P

There are so many issues with this article which seems to have been framed to fit the government agenda.

Disappointing because we were explicit about a number of things.

bbc.co.uk/news/health-64…

"No junior doctor has seen pay cut by 26% in that period".

We are comparing ourselves now to the same role in 2008. e.g. F1 to F1.

No doctor is worth less than they were in 2008.

The pay uplifts awarded by DDRB are across Junior Doctors just like inflation affects all Doctors

"they move up the pay scale over time until they finish their training."

We were at pains to describe that this is not automatic. There are artificial bottlenecks. Doctors also have to demonstrate significant competencies including passing extremely difficult expensive exams.

But lets look at those nodal points you mention (this ranges from 1-10 years of full time work and is not automatic!)

1st Nodal Point- £14.09/hr
2nd Nodal Point- £16.31/hr
3rd Nodal Point- £19.30/hr
4th Nodal Point- £24.46/hr
5th Nodal Point- £28.00/hr

Let this sink in for a minute before you think about your accountant or solicitor's fees.

35% uplift looks a little like £5/hr - £10/hr restoration

£14/hr --> £19/hr
£16/hr --> £22/hr
£19/hr --> £25/hr
£24/hr --> £32/hr
£28/hr --> £38/hr

That's not going to break the bank.

It's £1bn.

£4.3bn fraud write off or restore drs pay?
£10bn dodgy PPE or restore drs pay?

"A junior doctor in 2008 may well be a consultant now, perhaps earning four times in cash terms what they were then."

Consultants have seen an even larger decrease in their pay if you compare themselves to themselves.

"The past decade has not been a boom time for wage growth in many fields, as austerity and the lack of economic growth has held back incomes."

This I think we can agree on. Wages have been screwed over in favour of a profit-price spiral.

It's long past time wages went up.

"the independent Doctors' and Dentists' remuneration Body looked at this"

You mean the one that said this? I thought we made this point in the interview...

"Consultants earn well more than £100,000 on average"

Extensive training 5 years university & up to 10 years post graduate should command a wage that is commensurate with their skills

High skill high wage economy

Doctors are valuable. Time to value them.

"£80,000 of student loans are often topped up by private debt."

Fascinating how you don't mention that student loans are linked to RPI.

"doctors have to pay for ongoing exams and professional membership fees."

For an article that looks at a lot of numbers I'm surprised when it came to the costs of being a doctor you omitted some details. We went through some numbers with you but I'll post them here.

GMC £420
GP recorded assessment exam £1076
Anaesthetic exams totalling £2,140

And if you fail, you have to pay out again.

These are hard exams, not automatic progression.

Lets not forget that we're expected to move across the country multiple times throughout our careers.

I've worked in 5 regions in 5 1/2 years.

Doctors face relocation costs and instability in all aspects of their lives. The pay is really not commensurate for this disruption.

"But while medicine is undoubtedly tough, it remains hugely attractive.

Junior doctor posts in the early years are nearly always filled"

Graduate and Evacuate
F3 and Flee
CCT and Flee

The harsh reality of working in the NHS bites fast and the attrition rate is tremendous.

"problems appear more severe in other NHS roles is a key reason why the government does not seem to be in a hurry to prioritise doctors"

Using a relative term is really one dimensional.

This government has made the NHS awful for all professionals. We are all suffering.

"If we have some money to give a pay rise to NHS staff...doctors are not at the front of the queue."

Trying to instill FOMO in doctors to rush a poor deal is a really poor tactic. Doctors won't "join the queue" here when they can easily go to Australia for a better deal.

If the government fails to restore the professions, they fail to restore the NHS.

Doctors, nurses, and the public are all in this together.

If we lose, we all lose.

#FullPayRestoration