Doctors on £128,000 a year moan they have it worse than other workers — in bid to justify strikes
DOCTORS on £128,000 a year are moaning they have it worse than fellow workers — in a bid to justify strikes this week.
A British Medical Association boss yesterday said that consultants were “down far more” than other public sector workers.
The senior medics are walking out on Thursday and Friday after ministers slapped down their demands for a 35 per cent rise.
PM Rishi Sunak has said no amount of strikes will make him up his six per cent “final” offer.
But Dr Vishal Sharma, chair of the BMA consultants committee, said this was “actually a significant cut” because of inflation.
He added: “It’s actually one of the biggest cuts we’ve seen, despite over 15 years of pay cuts.”
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Challenged on their massive salaries, he added: “It’s not just about average pay, not everyone is in the same position.
“Consultants’ pay has been cut more than every other group across the public sector.”
Tory MPs last night reacted angrily to consultants’ demands.
Paul Bristow, a member of the Commons health committee, said: “I don’t think many of my constituents on low incomes, who struggle to make ends meet, will think they have had it better than consultants on £100,000.
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“NHS staff did excellent work during the pandemic, but my sympathy is with those on more modest incomes, such as nursing auxiliaries, cleaners and carers.”