Public opinion on resident doctors' salaries is divided. Almost half of readers believe the current pay is reasonable due to NHS budget pressures. A poll showed that 49% find the salaries fair. Some readers feel doctor pay should be higher, while concerns exist about the scale of recent strikes. Warnings from political leaders suggest that ongoing strikes could disrupt NHS recovery. The situation is concerning for patient care as hospitals prepare for potential disturbances from the strike actions.
Public opinion on whether resident doctors are fairly paid is sharply divided but nearly half of Independent readers agree with the government's stance that their current salaries are reasonable. In our poll, 49 per cent said the doctors' pay is fair given NHS budget pressures. Just over a quarter said they could be paid more but felt a 29 per cent increase is too high, while a further 25 per cent backed the BMA's demand for significantly higher pay, especially in light of rising inflation and real-terms wage cuts since 2008.
The answer to this is quite simple, wrote one reader. Pay them more or they will leave in droves... Does anyone believe healthcare can function without doctors? But some readers felt the scale of the strike is unreasonable, with one arguing that old-school union militancy has no place in our NHS.
The walkout comes despite last-minute appeals from Sir Keir Starmer and health secretary Wes Streeting, who warned that the five-day strike could derail NHS recovery efforts and harm patient care. With hospitals bracing for widespread disruption and ministers urging the BMA to reconsider their position, the consequences of the strike lie ahead.
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