Into the abyss - NHS Consultants have voted for strike action

Yes Casdon it is very serious especially if like my Husband you have had Consultant appointments cancelled because of the Junior Doctor's strikes. This also impacts on his anticipated operation having gone from a 12 months to an 18 months wait. Really bad news if you are in constant pain or have serious health conditions. We are seriously thinking of going privately as his health is deteriorating.

I find it worrying that the government are forcing people to pay for private medicine, if they can, rather than pay medical staff what they are worth.
The Tories are not supporters of the NHS.

Shocking and very greedy behaviour by the consultants

Indeed. I suspect this is to try to twist the government’s arm over the huge increase demanded by the junior doctors.

At least the nurses won’t be striking …

My concern is that people will inevitably die as a consequence of this action. Consultants carry out the most complex and urgent operations, facilitate the births of the most difficult to deliver babies, prescribe care for the most psychotic of patients etc. etc. They have acted down for junior doctors, other clinical staff have covered the role of nurses, but there isn’t anybody else who can cover the expertise the consultants have in their fields. It’s unprecedented.

Shocking.

Well maybe this government will listen to the consultants as they are not listening to anyone else. I am watching helplessly as my children are being chewed up by the meat grinder that our health and social care services have become. Both have life changing illness as a result, one had to go private for an accurate diagnosis and treatment, the other had to give up work, sell their home and move 900 miles away for proper care and support. Both are still soldiering on trying to help people in the sector.. They are not in the groups that are striking but have struggled with chronic shortage of staff in general and the consequences of underfunding by the Conservatives which has resulted in underhand, dog eat dog practice in competition for scarce funding.

karmalady

Shocking and very greedy behaviour by the consultants

How is it greedy to want to not make less than you did a few years ago, especially when you are likely doing more work now?

If the govt actually supported the medical field, this wouldn’t be an issue.

Blackmail.

DHSS suggests average salary of £128k a year for consultants - and asking for 35 percent so want around £200k ? Plus pension. Don’t know if this is without fees for private patients.
Are consultants going to be on the picket lines outside Nhs hospitals on strike days or seeing private patients in their consulting rooms? Going rate is upwards of £250 per appointment. Not too sure if that’s for 15 minutes or longer.
This group obviously isn’t buying into Rishi Sunak’s 5 point plan. I hope registrars can bridge the gap in care for 2 days in July.

I think this is shameful and I do hope the government will not cave in to their demands.
How much are the consultants demanding? 35% like the junior doctors?
If they all started at a more reasonable figure, then the government might take them seriously and resume negotiations.

Having had a Melanoma skin cancer (the nasty one) removed a year ago, plus 2 Basal Cell carcinomas, I'm on (or should be on) a 6 monthly check-up programme to pick up any recurrence. I should have been seen again in January of this year, and am still waiting. I know that there are people in much greater need than I am, many of whom are suffering from potentially fatal yet undiagnosed conditions. What a mess the NHS is in. So horrendously underfunded. I for one would happily pay more tax if I could be certain that it went into NHS coffers.

NanaDana do you have the option of seeing a specialist privately to set your mind at rest? We have no shortage of private care near London.

Those same consultants can just do more of their private work to make up loss of strike pay. They earn shed loads of money.
Doctors swear an oath not to do any harm but seem to be forgoing that as patients will suffer.

I sympathise nanadana Mr C was booked for major heart surgery. As he’s deteriorating surgeon wanted to operate by the end of this month at the latest. One admission date cancelled. The next is in the middle of the junior doctors strike. We’re expecting another cancellation. It’s hard, isn’t it?

This group of strikers I have absolutely no sympathy with, in fact I have nothing but contempt.

Their NHS salaries are over £100,000 add on their Private work and…

Indeed. I haven’t heard, though, whether they also want more money or are supporting the junior doctors’ demands.

Germanshepherdsmum

Indeed. I haven’t heard, though, whether they also want more money or are supporting the junior doctors’ demands.

Isn’t it against U.K. law for one group to come strike in support of others?

Wouldn’t it be what used to be called/classes as a wild cat strike

Excuse typos I am trying to do three things at once, whilst getting ready to go out.

I don’t believe they swear any oath just advised to do no harm.

I read that the junior doctors are striking for 5 days in July closely followed by the consultants out for 2 days.
I think these people are in the wrong profession.

I have no idea I’m afraid.

I had sympathy for all these NHS strikes at first but it is now rapidly disappearing.
Many will suffer because of these strikes by well paid consultants.

I have no sympathy for junior doctors insisting on a 35% increase either. Thank goodness the nurses aren’t taking more strike action. Obviously many of them don’t have the stomach to continue the harm this is doing to sick people. Good for them.