I wrote one of my earliest blogs five years ago. It explored a theme to which I have returned periodically ever since. It was a strange experience in the Michaelmas term of 2008 to be the only 40 year old medical student in a sea of school leavers. In truth, the divide between myself and my fellow medical students was always plain to see as one might reasonably expect.
I recall with clarity an incident in the first fortnight of medical school which will stay with me to the grave. A large group of us had been undertaking our first session in basic life support. The session passed without major event and at the end, our tutor asked those present to divulge why they had chosen to pursue a career in medicine. Nobody was coerced and all present chose to respond in due course. With few exceptions, the majority cited money as their prinicipal motivation. Even in spite of my advanced years, I was shocked to the core. I still am.
I had spent my early career in the private sector in a variety of roles ranging from retail jewelery to financial services to senior management in fast moving consumer goods. My new career choice was a far cry from my former roles. Even today I can look back with pride and say that money was never my master. If I have anything to do with it, that will remain the case.
The current Health Secretary has recently announced a plan to redefine social working hours and my brethren seem somewhat disillusioned with the new proposals. In short, he has extended the hours which may now be deemed social and with little surprise to myself, the scope of these hours is now longer than it was previously. This means that junior doctors may now expect to receive somewhat less money than they might have done previously. In their ensuing rage, many are now seriously contemplating strike action.
So at a time when the National Health Service is in crisis, the very doctors upon whom so many rely for efficient management of their health are toying with strike action. For fear of a storm of protest from my erstwhile colleagues, might I candidly question their motives for pursuing a career in medicine in the first place? While it might sound a little trite, I chose medicine to try and make a difference having previously been on the other side of the fence. Financial reward at the age of 40 was a long way down of my motivating factors. It still is. The biggest motivator for me is the progress of the people who depend on me.
The other obvious point to make here is that while many junior doctors cite the paucity of their reward compared to other professions, I would just ask them to make that same comparison ten years hence. The upward trajectory of monetary reward for doctors as they progress through their careers is very impressive. So while they might be surpassed by other professions in their junior years, any such disparity is easily overcome as they progress to more senior positions.
If they do decide to take strike action and "work to rule", it will be a very sad day and it will highlight the true extent of the challenges facing the well intentioned aspirations of the much publicised Francis Report. My late Grandfather was a General Practitioner and and Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon. To him and the majority of his generation, thr National Health Service was a highly prized institution in which they were proud to serve. He staunchly refused to take part in any strike action. Furthermore, he only ever accepted one private patient throughout his entire working life. Even though that person was very famous and extremely wealthy, he refused to accept any money from him as payment for his services. Instead, he accepted a donation to his beloved Chester Zoo wher he was the first Vet on account of the fact that they couldn't afford a proper one.
If my colleagues do decide to vote in England when balloted, I hope they give long, hard thought to the consequences of their decision and reflect on their primary motivations for working in a sector in which people come first, second and third.
I recall with clarity an incident in the first fortnight of medical school which will stay with me to the grave. A large group of us had been undertaking our first session in basic life support. The session passed without major event and at the end, our tutor asked those present to divulge why they had chosen to pursue a career in medicine. Nobody was coerced and all present chose to respond in due course. With few exceptions, the majority cited money as their prinicipal motivation. Even in spite of my advanced years, I was shocked to the core. I still am.
I had spent my early career in the private sector in a variety of roles ranging from retail jewelery to financial services to senior management in fast moving consumer goods. My new career choice was a far cry from my former roles. Even today I can look back with pride and say that money was never my master. If I have anything to do with it, that will remain the case.
The current Health Secretary has recently announced a plan to redefine social working hours and my brethren seem somewhat disillusioned with the new proposals. In short, he has extended the hours which may now be deemed social and with little surprise to myself, the scope of these hours is now longer than it was previously. This means that junior doctors may now expect to receive somewhat less money than they might have done previously. In their ensuing rage, many are now seriously contemplating strike action.
So at a time when the National Health Service is in crisis, the very doctors upon whom so many rely for efficient management of their health are toying with strike action. For fear of a storm of protest from my erstwhile colleagues, might I candidly question their motives for pursuing a career in medicine in the first place? While it might sound a little trite, I chose medicine to try and make a difference having previously been on the other side of the fence. Financial reward at the age of 40 was a long way down of my motivating factors. It still is. The biggest motivator for me is the progress of the people who depend on me.
The other obvious point to make here is that while many junior doctors cite the paucity of their reward compared to other professions, I would just ask them to make that same comparison ten years hence. The upward trajectory of monetary reward for doctors as they progress through their careers is very impressive. So while they might be surpassed by other professions in their junior years, any such disparity is easily overcome as they progress to more senior positions.
If they do decide to take strike action and "work to rule", it will be a very sad day and it will highlight the true extent of the challenges facing the well intentioned aspirations of the much publicised Francis Report. My late Grandfather was a General Practitioner and and Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon. To him and the majority of his generation, thr National Health Service was a highly prized institution in which they were proud to serve. He staunchly refused to take part in any strike action. Furthermore, he only ever accepted one private patient throughout his entire working life. Even though that person was very famous and extremely wealthy, he refused to accept any money from him as payment for his services. Instead, he accepted a donation to his beloved Chester Zoo wher he was the first Vet on account of the fact that they couldn't afford a proper one.
If my colleagues do decide to vote in England when balloted, I hope they give long, hard thought to the consequences of their decision and reflect on their primary motivations for working in a sector in which people come first, second and third.
Comments
Post a Comment