Thread by @mmamas1973

1. Tomorrow i will be supporting the NHS #ConsultantsStrike
About Me:
➡️ I am a cardiology consultant / professor @UHNM_NHS
➡️ i was from a working class background, i went to a state comprehensive. My dad left school at 16, mum at 12. I am the first / only member of my family… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

2. When I qualified (2000) we had no debt, stayed in hospital accommodation for free

➡️ junior drs leave with 100k of debt
➡️ earn less that i did 20 yrs ago
➡️ have had a real term pay cut of 20% over the past 13 yrs

Many are struggling to afford rent.

We are losing… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

3. Many will say that Drs have great pensions, earn money doing private practice etc

➡️ future pensions when you're 67 wont help you buy a house, pay your rent, feed your kids
➡️ most of don't do private practice
➡️ most of us will work for free- I have covered many on calls… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

4. The government/press will tell you that the strikes are pushing up waiting lists and putting patients at risk.

➡️ waiting lists have been increasing over the past 13 years.

This is data from NHS England- this is Way before the strikes happened.

5. Over the past 13 years the NHS has been grossly underfunded. The increase in waiting list / falling apart of the NHS is a political choice. Look at annual changes in spending when the waiting list has increased

The government has so far refused to meet with the @TheBMA - disrupted services lie completely at their door.

@TheBMA 7. I am not striking to line in my pockets. I could easily move to outside of the UK and increase my salary 3-5 fold.

I support the strikes:
1) improve the working conditions of our junior doctors so that they will want to stay and work in the NHS

2) improve services for… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…