Forums Forums National News Jeremy Hunt

Will he be remembered as the man who killed the NHS?

No, he'll be remembered for being the minister with the unfortunate name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjH4arIn-80

I wouldn't be surprised if the conflict with the doctors isn't another step closer to privatisation of the NHS.
Doctors may leave and then agency doctors (maybe the same doctors that left)or work farmed out to private hospitals making the cost of the NHS unsustainable.
Next will be the consultants and other workers in the NHS
for renewing their contracts.
As regards the junior doctors 72 hours a week = 6 days at 12 hours a day leaves hardly any time for family and leisure time - never mind 90 hours a week.
Possibly more doctors are needed and possibly a 2or3 shift system worked out (as in industry work 4days a week have 3 days off).
Not too sure whether the the arguement by the doctors is mainly about patient safety or the loss of some income.

old proverb
"All work and no play makes jack a dull boy "

ps
Just wondering how many MPs and Lords have financial interests in private medical firms

What I don't understand is that if their hours are being cut from 90 per week which they have moaned about for long enough, to 72 per week; surely that is a good thing . They say it is not about pay, but it darned well is.

Of those 90 hours a week, they would be 'on call' for weekends, so not necessarily working in the hospital, and they are being paid at the premium rate/ overtime.

The NHS already brings in agency staff for a lot of the departments, at a ridiculous cost. Therefore, I'm assuming that agencies can not often bring in staff at a moments notice, particularly at the weekends.

The current banding system means that doctors can receive an annual pay boost of up to 50 per cent, depending on the level of weekend work they do, and will not have to work for more than 48 hours on average due to the European Working Time Directive (ETWD), but they can opt out and work more hours - up to 56 - if they wish and an absolute limit of 72 hrs per week.

No junior doctor will have to work more than four nights in a row – down from the current week of nights - or five long day shifts in a row, compared to the existing seven long day shifts, the Department of Health says. Employers will be banned from scheduling any shifts over 13 hours, down from the current full shift length of 14 hours.

So they will now have choices as to how much time they spend with their families. SO far as I can see, including the 13% pay rise on basic, it seems to be pretty fair, and I don't like them using the 'poor patient' as their lever to get what they want, because it is all down to money at the end of the day.

Unless of course, I've got it wrong. Which I could have. Basically, we need more doctors to fill the gaps that will be created and I'm sure , rightly or wrongly,they can recruit from India again,as they did about 10 years ago on a massive scale.

boring....

Just like gove will for destroying schooling.
And being rightfully hated as all these facile cameron eton mates puppets are....
And penny moudants effect on & understanding of the fire service cuts etc etc
Where do they get these useless incompetent problem causing idiots??