The doctors’ strike

No public sector strike is easy to sell to the public. I recently did a stint of jury service and witnessed the chaos caused by court staff, members of the PCS union, striking over pensions. It’s one thing working around the inconvenience of jury service, but it’s quite another being kept on the premises when there is little chance of the courts actually sitting, as proved to be the case.

But, the BMA have it doubly difficult. Today, doctors decided to strike for the first time in more than 40 years. Doctors have a reputation for being well-paid, a reputation that is ingrained and, when one examines the NHS pay structure, not wholly unmerited. And I suspect that the clear and stable career progression laid out in that same NHS document would make many in the private sector envious. Although, it should be noted that the debts incurred in obtaining a medical degree are substantial.