NHS doctors 'working dangerous hours' share payslips amid strikes
A doctor who is on strike has explained why they feel 'undervalued' and 'overwhelmed' at work
An NHS doctor has shared exactly how much they earn a month as medics go on strike over pay and working conditions.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that the five-day action would begin at 7am on Friday (14 November) until Wednesday this week.
It is the 13th walkout by doctors since March 2023 and leaders, including health secretary Wes Streeting, have remained adamant on pay for resident doctors, arguing that they have been given a 30 percent rise in the past three years.
But the BMA claim doctors need a 26 percent pay increase to restore their earnings after factoring in inflation.
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The NHS said that the action was putting increased pressure on stretched budgets, with the last action in July costing them around £300 million, as Streeting calling the strikes 'unnecessary and irresponsible'.
We spoke to a doctor - who has chosen to remain anonymous - about why they are striking over this period and what drove them to join others on the picket line.
Noting that 'there aren't enough jobs' for doctors coming out of foundation, they explained to LADbible that too many are being turned away for vacant positions: "A&E is so busy with patients lined up along corridors, but there's a competition ratio of about 14 doctors applying for one training position."
They noted that every doctor they know in the NHS wants to keep working, but it's about 'protecting' doctors.
"If you compare the pay today to a doctor in 2008, it's actually 21 percent less pay due to inflation," they said. "We really care about our patients and we are making decisions that have consequences, and I feel like it's undervaluing us."
The doctor and one of their colleagues were willing to share their payslips with LADbible, with both of them earning around £2,900 a month after tax; which might seem decent at first.
But when you factor in that they're often working 66-hour weeks over the course of a month, it can actually prove dangerous as according to the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), a doctor should not work more than an average of 48 weekly hours over a six-month period.
66 hours per week is in breach of safe working hours and if a doctor chooses to opt out of EWTD, the legal limit is actually 56 hours.
*It should be noted that the previous version of the article suggested that the doctors earned below minimum wage, which is untrue when worked out against the gross pay.
The hours vary from week to week, but the fact that some weeks dip into this area at all is pretty worrying.
"It can be a lot to deal with - on one of my busiest [on call] shifts, I got over 60 bleeps," the doctor revealed, saying that while nobody wants to be striking, the NHS desperately needs more doctors and fair pay.
Pay for doctors also fluctuates based on where they are stationed, as this doctor told us that they would be at a GP surgery next, which allows for more sociable hours, but means they'll take a £600 pay cut each month.
Their colleague can also expect to earn less after their first year, which is when student loan deductions start being taken out of their salary.
That's without speaking about the work conditions, which often leave doctors overwhelmed during 'on-call' shifts, which require them to be available when contacted by bleep to see a patient immediately.
"There are times where I feel really, really overwhelmed with how much I'm having to deal with at one time," they pointed out, as shifts can often run over 12/13 hours on certain days.
The doctor spoke about the importance of their colleagues, who have been 'amazing' in keeping things smooth in the most hectic of times - the heat from doctors seems to be towards management.
"I don't feel like my workplace actually values me, nobody cares about your struggles even though they go on about mental health - it irks me when it's management, who have never worked with patients, are the ones making the rules," they highlighted.
The Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement to LADbible: "As the wage slip shows the individual is currently on track to earn over £45,000 - well above the national average.
“A new doctor now starts on around £38,800 – rising to about £49,000 with additional earnings – thanks to a near 29% pay boost in three years. There are strict safety rules to stop doctors working unsafe hours, with systems in place to make sure they’re paid for any additional hours.”
The DHSC shared that the BMA walked away from an offer last week which took action on working conditions, creating more doctor jobs and addressing extra costs that resident doctors experience.
A new exception reporting system will also be introduced to doctors on 4 February following an agreement with the BMA Resident Doctor Committee to make it easier to report extra hours worked.
Joshua Nair