Would you support the doctors' strike.

Excuse me while I go into a corner and quietly rock.

No particular corner (just to make it clear).

I agree that doctors, like nursing staff, ambulance staff and others, should work a 7 day shift pattern, but simply making the same number of already overworked and overstretched junior doctors work more hours is surely not the answer. I am seriously concerned that this has been engineered to start the slow privatisation of NHS services, and as such, I support the actions of the doctors unreservedly. They are not striking for more pay, or better conditions, they are striking for the NHS, for the benefit of all of us. Too many services are being provided by private companies, and generally the service is not better and the conditions for the staff employed by these companies are generally worse. If we let this slow drip drip drip privatisation contnue the whole country NHS, schools, social services whatever, will be provided by exploited and underpaid staff employed by G4S or Crapita Capita. Add to this dreadful sistuation the added insult that the profits made by these companies are often fiddled recorded overseas. How much longer before people say enough?

Saying that doctors are striking for the NHS, for the benefit of all of us seems to me a bit like someone spanking a child for its own good GillT57

Sadly, I don't think anyone desperate for a doctor would appreciate "that they are striking for the benefit of all of us"

Sorry gillybob but that's how I see it, and I do appreciate it must be hard for you to see it this way given the farce of the treatment that your Mother received. But, i really do think that the proposed changes will make things worse, and I for one, support the doctors in their strike and hope they go through with it.

Oh to have your intelligence gillybob , I am in awe. I am aware people work a five day week, are you claiming the doctors are striking because they do not wish to work a five day week?

How many times does gillybob need to spell it out for you anniebach or are you being deliberately obtuse? the same doctor will STILL only work a five day rota, they do not want to work at weekends.Granted , now and then they have to depending on circumstances, but they do not want it to become a regular thing.Finding a doctor on a weekend in a hospital is a rare thing,as some of us have found out.

Rosesarered, Are you the 21st century answer to Archy Andrews?

what are you on about now? If you are in training to become a comedian, ab you will have to practise a bit harder, and get your material a bit more up to date.

Up to Date? so you know what I am talking about Rosesarered , why ask?

Back to the topic for me Byee

I had to think about it for a bit ab before I remembered.However your use of the analogy was a bit strange, like many of your posts, it may be a poetic Welsh thing.

Or you may just enjoy being rude to people, hmmn?

www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2016/01/06/comment-the-government-s-catastrophic-mishandling-of-the-jun

This is what Norman Lamb says. It's a shame he backed the government in the Health and Social Care Act.
The NHS would be in a better state if he and his party had not.

nhap.org/six-reasons-why-the-junior-doctor-fight-is-central-to-the-fight-for-the-nhs/

This is from December 1st, but it still stands.

In July after Jeremy Hunt first started pillorying junior doctors for not working weekends, there was an I'minworkjeremy action on twitter from very angry doctors.

www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/jul/21/doctors-decisions-ill-informed-jeremy-hunt-people-die-iminworkjeremy

Perhaps the reason some of you (one of you?) find no doctors at weekends now is as a reaction to Hunt's comments. After all, if somebody told you continually that you were not working when you were, why would you carry on working?

It's been the same for years. And surely you aren't suggesting that doctors have been avoiding working at weekends just to spite Jeremy Hunt?

www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jul/20/iminworkjeremy-doctors-working-weekend-selfies-open-letters-jeremy-hunt-nhs

It will be many more than the few of us on here, that have found problems at the weekend, it has been an ongoing problem forever!

The weekend issues don't just apply to doctors do they and at least so far as GP's go, most of us have excellent back up facilities.
My big complaint it JH insisting that doctor's only work Monday - Friday, poppy cock.

Can anyone put their hand on their heart and say they are convinced that all those hardworking, committed, intelligent doctors, who really don't want to strike, are wrong and one career politician is right?
They are not striking for more money or better conditions. They are striking because they don't want less money or worse conditions. And because one of the proposed changes to conditions re working hours could lead to a reduction in patient safety.

No, I certainly can't say that.

I'd still like to know whether durhamjen really believes that hospital doctors are limiting their weekend working hours as a 'reaction to Hunt's comments'.

I am not commenting as my comments would be deleted.
I will say, that to me, medicine is a vocation.

I have to admit, I am sometimes in awe of myself Anniebach !

As I recall you were interpreting my "5 from 7" as hours worked. (as a deliberate attempt to be awkward or not?) and so I thought I had better make it clear for you. But you already knew that didn't you?

I am sorry that I do not have your blind faith in any one political party, your never ending adoration of the one who calls himself Jeremy.

But as I have said on other occasions I prefer to have an open mind.

.........and having read the comment from DJ suggesting that maybe it is because of Hunt's comments that I/we/my mum couldn't find a doctor in a huge hospital on a Saturday I am even more puzzled than ever.