Heated Debate: Should Doctors Have To Go To Work? | Good Morning Britain 

Anyone notice how when the private doctor is asked about his own decision to leave NHS 30 years ago, he immediately changes the discussion to agreeing with the junior doctors' lower pay? Talk about diversionary tactics!

The private doctors critique of the juniors doctors, is a joke. He didn’t stay in the NHS because they DON’T PAY!

Well done Dr. Anita you very aptly highlighted what the junior doctors are going through and the appalling conditions they have to work in. I find it rather rich (pun intended) for the privately practising GP to criticise the junior doctors. 😀

If being an NHS doctor is such a privilege why did this guy go private?

How dare that private doctor even think he should have an opinion about NHS junior doctors! He sold his soul 30 years ago for money over the well-being of his community. My daughter is a junior doctor who struggles to pay her bills and has to take on extra work even after the gruelling weekly shifts and still owes tens of thousands of pounds in student loans. These amazing people are not only standing up for better pay and conditions, they’re bringing to light the untold amount of patients who are suffering and dying because this tory government wants the NHS to fail but don’t want the blame for it.

Notice how the GP is an old person? Old people who probably have their mortgages paid off because everything was so cheap for their generation. Old people can't comment on young people's wages because wages today are probably less than a tenth of what they were back when he was a junior doctor when you factor in the costs of everything. 100k a year should be the average salary if the average house is 400k. So a Dr should be earning closer to 200k not the 33k they are paid

Exhausted, overworked and unsupported junior doctors are more likely to make mistakes with grim consequences not only for patients but for themselves. If they were only interested in money they’d have gone into finance or become influencers!

I live in Canada and think our doctors don't earn enough; the amount junior doctors in the UK make is worse. They deserve a raise with the amount of work they do and schooling they've gone through.

Lol I'm surprised any junior doctor even wants to work for the NHS!

If your employer is refusing to negotiate with you what else can you do??

When will people wake up to the fact that all of this is done on purpose

I am a medical student and there are tonnes of people in my year talking about 1. Not finishing their degree, stopping at 4 years to switch to a related (or even unrelated) STEM degree 2. Becoming a junior doctor, finishing their training and leaving abroad 3. straight up dropping out and picking up an apprenticeship I dont mean to say sew division and say people don't deserve their money. But my friend left school at 18, A grade student like me. And spent the last 5 years (while I was at uni) working, and then went into a finance apprenticeship where he works from home. And they paid off his technical degree which he did while working. Whereas I am forced to go through Uni, and then work FOR FREE for the NHS as a 5/6th year. Before getting barely higher pay than him. Im not suggesting he should get paid less, Im not even suggesting that we should get payed the same. All Im saying is the option is there for every medical student to drop out of these expensive degrees and pursue the lifestyle that my friend is. And its becoming more and more tempting for med and healthcare student all across the UK to drop out.

He’s not helping the nhs during the strikes. He’s taking advantage of customers who have no chance to be seen! Supply and demand

If junior doctors are driving taxis to pay the bills..yeah time to increase the pay.

The private GP continues to see patients daily despite the strike.... For a small fee. I wonder what that fee is

Astonishing lack of awareness from that absolute dinosaur Dr. If you are angered at Drs being on strike, place that anger at those in power who are allowing this to continue. What a ridiculous argument.

The Dr. Left the NHS 30yrs ago because of the low pay and politics. 30yrs later, he now argues on National TV against the very reason left the NHS. Some one please get him a Doctor. Full circle!!

Whoever says that ANY profession is a vocation and a privilege is delusional! It’s a JOB. People need MONEY.

It’s a privilege to be a doctor? It’s a privilege to be a PRIVATE PRACTICING DOCTOR where your money is guaranteed and you can afford to pay your rent, heating, food shopping, and still have money left over. People are dying, doctors don’t want to go to work even though they’ve dedicated their lives to it, but what incentive are they receiving if they can’t even afford to eat? Can’t afford to eat, sleep, or put a roof over their heads, how will they properly do their jobs?

He just wants the strikes to stop because he is now having to deal with the same things as what the NHS GP’s are having to deal with as more people are going private but even though he’s being paid far more than the NHS GP’s he can’t handle the work load and high pressure

People who are against strikes never like to admit that they work, or that there aren't any viable alternatives to the strike system in this country

What does the question,”should they have to go to work” even mean? Even if the answer is “yes”, what is going to be the consequences? Fire them? Suspend them? Take money out their salary for the days on strike? None of these options sounds remotely realistic, given that such a high percentage of doctors are on strike and they can’t all be actioned against.

Striking is the same as blackmail!! No they shouldn't strike,they can negotiate like all other professionals!

Private doctor why are you not in the NHS??? hahaha

Lol. I left for the US after my F2 training in 2016. The working condition is pretty poor and the compensation in the UK is absolutely too low. I recall we didn’t have call rooms at the hospital. Absolutely horrendous. As an attending in US, I make 4x what I would have been in the UK. I’m done training but friends in the UK are still in training. 10% of my med school class are now practicing outside the UK.

It's pretty simple really, if you don't pay staff enough they leave. People forget that doctors are patients too. If we cannot afford to stay in the job we won't.

perhaps health secretaries should have to take a hypocratic oath...

Having a doctor to rely on is a privilege, being one is not especially when there is a cost attached to it. I just want people to explain why its acceptable for doctors to work for less pay because we insist we need them but have no problem with bankers and every other field being paid differently. Why is the sacrifice supposed to be coming from the doctors?

And PRIVATE doctor!!! Says it all

YES DR.ANITA YESSSS WE NEED CURRENT DOCTORS AND NURSES TALKING ABOUT OUR NEEDS.

If the NHS got the same pay as Private doctors, they’d also be going in to work today. This man sold out and went private, he should be ashamed to criticise.

Cut the management and there will be more than enough to give them a good pay rise.

Solidarity with all striking workers ✊

Simple solution: PAY THEM. Costs have risen and people cannot keep up, pay workers livable wages and stop giving hundreds of millions to the British royal family who are taking in hundreds of millions per year with their duchies and unethical cash for honors schemes!

I support the way she looks at them, like they’re a big joke😂

I'm absolutely disgusted by this morning and those Tory grifter presenters posing the question if people in this country have a democratic right to strike. Whenever a group strikes because of poor pay and working conditions, instead of addressing those poor conditions and poor pay, they try an distract the audience by focusing only on the immediate disruption and not the long-term issues caused by crippling underfunding of the NHS. These people are bereft of moral integrity.

The doctors are partly to blame for the mess the NHS is in. The clinics haven't been the same since the doctors took over their administration. The doctors just cut back on admin and receptionists to save money, just as to pocket the difference. The GPs' need to admit the Tory policy to allow surgeries to be run and owned by the doctors was a terrible mistake and work toward bringing back the old system. All sounds nice doesn't it, doctors running their own surgeries, but in practice it means phone calls are not answered, patients are not seen, letters for check ups are not sent out. People just give up trying and end up presenting themselves at accident and emergency with ailments that could have been nipped in the bud weeks earlier. Also the idea that pervades most debates about the NHS is a total misnomer, that is the idea that money should go to front-line staff while bureaucracy should be cut back. Bureaucracy is not waste, it's an essential part of any well functioning organization. Doctors need to treat, managers need to manage, and receptionists need to answer the bloody phone.

Yes they should. All doctors should be in full time work and they should work weekends and bank holidays.

Power to the People!!

I wish that Dr. Anita Raja would have posed this question/statement...." we live in a society and with a government that paid Junior Doctors 14 pounds an hour to deal patients in life and death situations, some Doctors died prematurely because of Covid, whereas journalists get paid huge salaries to sit on a chair and read a teleprompter". I wonder how many Junior Doctors annual salaries would the annual salary of Richard Madeley cover.

This private GP would be the kind to say 'now is not the time to talk about guns'

This doctor says that being a doctor is a privilege but HE left the NHS because of hurt feelings, and not being fed and poor sleep arrangements. So where was his sense of duty of care of patients without the reward of handsome salary? (Never mind that he is tbe generation that got free or nearly university education, instead of being lumbered with the highest student debt in the world) Does he really think Those problems don't exist any more? And notice that he had to be told several times about junior doctors having to take second jobs just to make ends meet before it even sunk in enough to actually clarify it. I have Bern in situation where I could not get an appointment but I would have to just turn up and hope for the best in case of an emergency, because of lack of staff. For a long time now, all the surgery has had have been locums instead of 3 resident ones.. and the number has now fallen down to just one. The receptionist now has to make a medical assessment without having any medical qualification of whom should the doctor call back for consultation - after surgery hours which are from 8 am - 6.30 pm. Meaning that they are working often 12- hour days! And because of the lack of administrative staff, they often have to do the admin stuff as well. I think it is morally corrupt to emotionally blackmail junior doctors and nurses for not going in strike because of ethics that were baked in when all the doctors were private and treated only patients that could pay enough to provide a cosy living. I can guarantee that junior doctors do care about their patients and only strike as a last resort! And I think they have the right to do so: let the government compel senior doctors and private surgeries to take care of emergencies in the meanwhile. I am convinced that should the government compel private surgeries and hospitals to help to clear the backlog created during covid, paying NHS salaries, the salaries of nurses of NHS doctors (and the shortages) would be solved by the government in no time!

Fair play to the GP for acknowledging the difficulties that the junior doctors are facing. Trouble is that working to rule doesn't work either. Junior doctors are not even getting the benefits promised in the enforced 2016 contract.

Gp practises need to be open 7 days a week, i work in retail and it’s open everyday yet the doctors get to close on the weekend? The doctors hours need to be longer, imagine how many more people would get seen by doctors a day? This would take some strain off of the hospitals However, doctors of all kinds are already on more money than i could ever imagine, they studied for this job, nobody forced them to take it, People will DIE from these strikes!! For the doctors saying they can no longer afford their rent (when they live in a top, 5 or 6 bedroom house get a nice 3 bedroom house instead i can almost promise you can afford it with your at least 35 to 50,000 a year pay (this is more aimed at consultants than junior doctors) Unfortunately inflation effects everybody every day! Why fix one profession when theres thousands others that need it too! Just can’t afford to pay the difference to every profession! So if the police, ambulance, firefighters etc can’t get a raise then the consultants shouldn’t either

Wonder why GMB brought a private GP to speak here, what a joke!

Ironic that a well paid GP and a doctor in private practice are debating this issue about junior hospital doctors. Couldn’t the television channel have found an actual junior doctor and say a politician or someone from the GMC to discuss this issue?

Madely?? Being a doctor, junior or otherwise is a job. It is not some higher calling that denies them the same rights as every other worker. Push them into a corner and they have every right to bite back. WTH is this Alan partridge wannabe still given airtime?

They should at least attend to Emergency cases.

No. My one year old has had her pediatrics appointment cancelled 3 times now. Our GP suspects she could have epilepsy, it's potentially quite serious. Cancelled twice with no explanation and now because they're on strike. We've been waiting about 3 months for it now. Useless.

Bless the strikers 🙏

Give the doctors, an increase that they so deserve!!

Patients lives have been put at risk since the tories have been in office since 2010. It's a shame our tory polititions didn't have to take that oath that madely was quoting. Well done Anita for telling the truth & not letting them bully you. Just one thing though costas doesn't pay £14 per hour most staff there are on minimum wage

If a patient rocked up to this private GP’s practice, and refused to pay the fees he requests for his care, I wonder if he would still see them? I highly doubt it, and so he has no right to be on the other side of this debate. The only alternative to striking is leaving to the private sector and crippling the NHS for more than just 4 days… which he has done already.

This private doctor is a joke

"It's not about the money." "It does not pay your bills." Depends how well off you want to be.

I remember back in the heydays when I was a junior doctor in the UK going through surgical training, I had to work extra Locum shifts to make ends meet. When I was asked wittingly by the departmental boss as to why I subjected myself to work locum shifts, I was embarrassed and lied about the fact that I just wanted to have extra experience. It was a dog breakfast with the NHS and things have gotten so much worse these days. I am glad I made the decision to leave the oppressive regime of the UK for a greener pasture where I am working as a consultant now whilst enjoying a great work life balance.

Doctors who say being a doctor is a privilege... REALLY worry me, those people have house sized egos... Is he really saying that the respect and admiration and tax code privileges outweigh the need for good personal health and wellbeing? That the "privilege" affored to a doctor is somehow more fulfilling than food? Provides more SECURITY than affordable accommodation? IF NHS staff were offered discount mortgages and priority checkouts in supermarkets and subsidised travel... MAYBE it would be a more attractive VOCATION?

Where’s Susanna Reid 😢

"Because being a doctor is a privilege" ....honestly, this private doctor should be ashamed

And now in GP practices there are advanced nurse practitioners who are essentially cheap doctors. Obviously they are not able to deal with every medical issue but they are surely taking a huge workload of these privately paid GP’s whilst they are NHS employees.

You can't claim it's about conditions but say you'll accept more money for those conditions.

I agree with the strikes 100% I’m just wondering though, when the junior doctors are applying for the jobs is the salary not in the job description?

Why is it that the whole world has the right to make as much money as they can, and doctors who have put their blood, sweat and tears into their work are not getting their due? Pontification on what is morally right for them is patently absurd

Doctors aren't the only people within health care sector that are underpaid and over worked. Where is the pay rise for the care home staff who suffered through the pandemic???? A 12/14 hour shift (often a split 24hr) is the norm for people working within social care. They also help save lives and shape lives for £11ph. I fully support the cause but I don't support the action when so many others are overlooked but continue to get on with it. Patient safety should be the main factor in their argument but it only seems to be about ££££.

Thirty years later and the system has gone from bad to worse and yet the older individual says the doctors should keep suffering. Is this some sort of joke?

Don’t do it then? No one is forcing you to do medicine.

The private doctor made me tachycardia !

A very intelligent lady they deserve a restoration of pay, people are dying on hospital corridor trolleys and waiting lists. The government are to blame pay the doctors what they truly deserve. The health of our NHS depends on it.

British HGV drivers are in queue next for better pay.

The private doctor works a clinic in London as a "same day doctor" - he's working until Midnight sometimes - yes it's a paid for service - saying that, he's very good - down to earth GP. He's actually a very nice man.

Why do we ever question their Oaths? They have been performing their oaths, the thing is the should be at least be paid well so they can afford to live..and be happy to perform their oaths

Although we all respect what the medical profession did/does for us a lot of other people worked tirelessly right through covid not just doctors and nurses etc, I agree that junior doctors could have a pay rise but also in saying that most people who work regardless if they are a nurses/ doctors or not should strike to get more pay etc, because we are all finding it extremely hard financially and shortage of staff etc wherever we work at this moment in time ? ? 🤔

They just saw that the train drivers get a huge pay rise and want the same.

How dare he. I'm all right Jack.

Am all for payrise but who came up with the 35 percent raise though? Is it supposed to be 10 year gradual increase?

This is the real problem. Old or retired people who don't even work in NHS Bcoz of bad pay think that it is a privilege to be a doctor.. Well, that doesn't pay ur bills that's why u left NHS long ago.. People r dying even without strike due to the working conditions. If u don't give them a reason to stay, then junior doctors will either leave the country or opt out of medical field.. No one wants such privileges which r detrimental to oneself. Govt can keep these privileges for themselves and people like this private doctor..

What admin staff you do but cant be bothered to pay them

Well if junior doctors don’t like working in Britain leave for another country

oh and as for the private doctor they had in.... well how relevant was his contribution? nice man and dedicated doctor he may have been, but i wonder where he set his practice up and I wonder what his annual salary is? ... lets privatise the NHS?

Private doctor talking about harm…

GMB is using moral to attack juniors, where is the moral fibre of the government? Private doctors decide when to work, cant see them reducing their fee, perhaps they should come in to the NHS to work for free

35 percent……..don’t make me laugh

Why go into a profession if you know the pay limits? Don’t be a doctor if you do not like the money. Richard is also useless get rid of him.

NO COMMENTS = No Viewing, it took a long while for ‘the penny to drop’❗️ FortunateIy I glanced at this Video. I ONLY watch Channels that allow comments.

I don’t think they are going against their oath by striking. If that’s the attitude then how can doctors have days off because people suffer on those days. They have to fulfil their duty alongside keeping themself healthy and happy and that includes paying them appropriately and treating them with the respect they deserve.

No doctor should be paid less money than a batista in Pret. If you life is the hands of someone else you would like them to feel they are being properly rewarded for their skills, knowledge and years of hard work and training.. You would also hope they haven't been on a shift for 144 hours.

PS if the private doctor is so proud to be a doctor, if it’s such an honour and a privilege then why don’t the private GPS etc all step in during the strikes and help for free? No? Oh ok so it is about money….

NHS staff and i mean all staff have not had a decent pay rise for a long long time,why dont mps have the same pay rise as everyone else?

Some consultants work for both it should be one only , the NHS doctor is brilliant 👏 and so are junior doctors ❤

Elephant in the room, cost to buy and rent? We talk all day about low pay but what is the government doing about greedy landlords buying up swathes of property. I think every nhs worker should have a deposit paid for them for a house in an area theyre required to work. If you want highly skilled doctors and nurses working in ludicrously expensive areas then house them !!!

ORRRR does the Government have a moral duty to pay them a proper wage?

Yeah, you are talking Private Doctor 😊

So he left the NHS for the exact reason the strikes are on! Muppet! Privilege comes with salary of always has but not anymore

I fully support everyone who strikes for better conditions , this disgusting excuse for a govt have stuffed the working people for decades , absolutely everything we need to carry on living has shot through the roof with double digit percentages , we carry on like this believe me people will take to the streets , the most help has gone to those who can't be bothered to find a job , if you're an average working person you are getting shafted constantly

Better get used to it. Welcome to the brave new world. Where compromise can never be obtained.

this government have treated public sector workers terrible for years

I've never met a poor doctor .

Why are they trying to make it as a moral issue. How else you think our voices/struggles will be heard. And what’s the point of striking if it doesnt bring disruption. Believe me, we went to the profession with a bucket full of empathy/enthusiasm and care. But that bucket needs to be maintained, and it is rapidly haemorrhaging with the appalling salary, awful treatment and working conditions. Let me be loud and clear, I will happily break the damn oath if I have to. I wasnt born to be a martyr. I was top of my class, paid over 100k for my education, two university degrees, passed various post graduate exams, attended trauma calls/cardiac arrests, etc..For my hard work, skills and responsibilities, I demand respect and better treatment. Honestly, I have had enough!. You want my service, pay me first!.

Didnt think they did.

Well said,the private GP is out of touch