Doctors put patients' health at risk over demands for fatter pensions


It’s time to take your vitamin pills, check your pulse and temperature, and make sure you are in peak physical condition, because you don’t want to fall ill on Thursday. 

Our doctors, you know the ones who took a vow to “first do no harm” and help people in medical need, are about to go on strike.


Apparently they don’t get enough,  demanding more using the health of their patients, who don’t have the privilege of medical training, as a bargaining tool.

It seems the £110,000 a year pay packet and £68,000 retirement pension is too low.


Anyone whose illness is non-urgent (whatever that means) can, well, go whistle.

They said they will still turn up to work, though I don't see that will be such a hardship as they are set to be paid £430 for the day by, you guessed it, us taxpayers.

They are moaning about pensions, presumably because their inflated salaries will leave them out of pocket come retirement if the figure is not upped.

I am planning to work through my old age as I don’t get a pension, but don’t let that bother you. I am hoping I shall be fit and healthy long enough to fund myself, although it seems not with your help.


You know, I can almost forgive tube drivers and airline staff when they strike over pay, it is our choice whether to use their services or not.


Even the fire service. When they went on strike they threatened to let people's houses burn to haggle for more money, but they didn't to my knowledge take a vow to put care above all else.


Doctors have done just that, taken a vow to care for their patients above all else, including demands for more money.

Around 40 per cent of doctors in surgeries and hospitals are due to take action. Around 1.25million appointments, tests and operations will be cancelled.

Do I get a National Insurance rebate to make up for the amount I will pay for medical “insurance” that I have to forget?  Thought not.

Daniel Poulter, a Tory MP and a hospital doctor, said the public  “will not understand why doctors are striking over receiving a pension of £68,000”.


So far Dr Poulter -  spot on.

“This is the kind of generous pension that many hard working people in both the public and private sector can only ever dream of receiving,” he added.

Employers can, if they want, withhold pay from strikers or reduce it when only limited duties are performed.

But at least nine of the 50 primary care trusts in England have decided not to cut GPs’ pay – largely because it is too much hassle.

It’s always the case when it comes to the public’s money, it’s easier to just dish it out – easy come, easy go. 

The British Medical Association, which is behind the strike, did not say whether GPs plan to work on Saturday but insisted lost work will be made up.

As most doctors have not worked weekends since 2004 thanks to a contract negotiated by Labour, it is unlikely (picture AJ PHOTO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY).

Not having to work weekends, that would be nice.

Yesterday it was the tubes and trains, not striking, just performing as usual which is as good as being on strike.

Now it is doctors, and there is talk teachers are going to get in on the act.


This is a flagrant abuse of the extended education they have been given, and the privileged position they hold in society.

Isn’t it time these people stopped being so shamefully greedy, thought about the responsibility they agreed to take when they took the job, and went to work like the rest of us?





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