RSS Feed
June 20th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda - Support has waned and doctors admit to having a ‘crisis of confidence’
- Dispute expected to lead to the
cancellation of 1.25million GP appointments - Poll of 1,265 GP practices suggests doctors are having second thoughts
- Only 281 centres confirmed they would definitely take part in a walk-out
- Survey by GP magazine found only 21 per cent would be participating
By
Sophie Borland
11:22 EST, 19 June 2012
|
02:07 EST, 20 June 2012
A growing number of GPs last night signalled they are ready to put their patients first by defying the call to strike tomorrow.
Support for industrial action has waned in recent days, with many doctors admitting to having a ‘crisis of confidence’.
At the same time, the findings of two separate polls appear to show that support for the protest over modest changes to doctors’ pensions is weakening.
A first in 40 years: Members of the British Medical Association will strike over changes to doctors’ pensions
The strike, which has been organised by the British Medical Association, is the first since 1975.[
Both family and hospital doctors will stage a walk-out and refuse to treat all but the most critically ill patients.
Concerned: Patients groups, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, pictured, along with other politicians and doctors, urged the BMA to reconsider taking strike action
The dispute is expected to lead to the cancellation of 1.25million GP appointments along with tens of thousands of routine hospital procedures, from hip replacements to heart-bypass surgery.
Last night, patients groups, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, along with other politicians and doctors, urged the union to reconsider.
Katherine Murphy, of the Patients’ Association, said: ‘The only people who will lose out in this are patients. Every extra day that someone waits in pain for an operation or treatment is a day too long.
‘It’s difficult enough for patients to see their GP as it is and this action will only make the situation worse.
Patients are also waiting longer for hospital treatment. We would urge the BMA to reconsider.’
In a letter to Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA – the third sent by the Health Minister, Mr Lansley wrote: ‘The BMA appears set on its path, but I hope that your members will put patients first.’
Meanwhile, a poll of 1,265 GP practices by Pulse magazine appears to show many doctors are having second thoughts.
Only 281 centres – 22 per cent – confirmed they would definitely take part in a walk-out.
A similar survey by GP magazine of 1,660 practices found just 21 per cent had confirmed they would be participating.
About 80 per cent of GPs who took part in the BMA’s ballot last month were in favour of industrial action.
However, fewer than half of the 40,000 GPs in England took part.
The
Mail revealed yesterday how family doctors will still receive their
typical day’s pay of £430 even if they take part in the strike.
Although
practices which are protesting will be open, doctors will only treat
patients with cases they consider to be ‘urgent’ or ‘an emergency’.
There will be no routine appointments and patients who are not deemed seriously ill will be turned away.
However, even senior members of the BMA have admitted that an increasing number of doctors are having a ‘crisis of confidence’.
Dr Mark Sandford Wood, chairman of the
union’s GP branch in Devon, said many doctors had concerns over the
Government’s changes to their pensions, which will mean they have to
contribute more from their salaries and retire later.
Questionable support: About 80 per cent of GPs who took part in the BMA’s ballot last month were in favour of industrial action. However, fewer than half of the 40,000 GPs in England took part
But he added: ‘A lot of my colleagues feel passionately about pensions but have decided to put patients first.
‘Some of the senior GPs in my practice are really struggling with their conscience. It’s a question of which child do you love more, your pension or your patients?
‘That’s why some of my colleagues who supported industrial action have decided to carry on providing the same service they always provide.’
A number of GPs are so opposed to the strike that they have withdrawn their membership from the BMA.
Dr
Daniel Poulter, a Conservative MP and practising doctor quit the
organisation this month, having been a member for more than 12 years.
He
said: ‘As a doctor – rather like being a policeman – it’s just not
acceptable to strike. If we do then it means operations will be
cancelled.
‘This means
that someone who has been waiting many weeks or months for vital surgery
is going to have to live longer in pain and distress.
‘It’s going against the principle of being a doctor. I can’t support this – it’s immoral.
‘The reason I resigned is our doctors are among the best paid in the world and receive very generous pensions.’
Other GPs chose to air their misgivings on the internet. Peter Mcevedy, a GP, told Pulsetoday.co.uk:
‘Most GPs would not wish to do
anything which would potentially harm their patients – I don’t know of
any practice around here who will be taking action. Wrong action in my
view – do something to harm the Government, not the patients.’
Another
GP, Raj Thakkar, told Gponline.com: ‘We as GPs must recognise that
there is an economic crisis and we do have jobs – as such a strike could
be very damaging to our reputation as GPs?’
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chair of the BMA council said yesterday: ‘Patient safety is our absolute priority.’
Have you or has anyone you know had an operation, test or other hospital procedure cancelled due to the strike? If so please get in touch email [email protected] or call 02079386000, and ask to be put through to news
-
Obama’s grandfather tortured by the British? A fantasy (like…
-
Man with 100-pound scrotum REJECTS offers to perform $1…
-
The body that drove John Edwards mad: Rielle Hunter struts…
-
Coven of Salem witches appears in court to support stripper…
-
Secret corpse flights, pizza boy delivery routes and the…
-
EXCLUSIVE: John Edwards pictured with the mistress and the…
-
Tracksuit, brutal haircut and no make-up: Zara’s new look…
-
Does Kim Kardashian really sum up everything that’s wrong…
-
EXCLUSIVE: Pictured together in public for the first time,…
-
‘This guy is going to die on me’: Police release dramatic…
-
Mom whose toddler plunged 50ft to his death put him on a…
-
Mother-of-three dragged to her death by driver of SUV in…
Share this article:
Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.
The comments below have not been moderated.
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
During the strike, GP’s will still have to be at their surgeries to provide emergency cover. Because of the strike action, they will not be paid during this time. As they have to be there anyway, I think many will refuse to strike. Also, it may appear that GP’s are paid a fortune but from this salary, they have to pay the wages of their practice manager, receptionists and all other practice overheads.
Report abuse
So doctors were blessed by being born with intelligence, which they put to good use when they studied medicine in the nation’s colleges and universities until that they became highly valued – and highly paid – members of society. but so did the architects that gave us our hospitals, the engineers that gave us everything from scanning equipment to artificial organs and prosthetics, the scientists who research and deliver an unending supply of new life=saving drugs. They are all working with equal vigour and commitment to save lives, except that the former group – the (BMA) doctors -demand the right to be afforded a somewhat privileged and saintly status, separate from all others who must bear their fair share of financial restraint during these very difficult times.
– Tony, Devon, 20/6/2012 10:05
Perhaps the doctors would be more prepared to
Report abuse
Blessings to my GP, Dr Angus Ross. The BMA should be ashamed of itself. Where in the Hippocratic Oath does it state that the financial health of medical practitioners with come before the health of patients!
Report abuse
In any conflict the first thing to suffer is the truth. This has little to do with the absolute pension amount. Some facts:
[1] Doctors’ Pension entitlements were renegotiated two years ago to make them affordable in the long run. Currently there is a surplus of over £2 billion per annum going into the Government coffers from the scehme. That should compensate for one or two Jimmy Carrs
[2] Why have doctors been singled out rather than all equivalent “high earners”? While Doctors will pay 14.5% of their salary towards their pension Senior Civil Servants earning the same and expecting equivalent pension provision will pay 7.2%. And don’t get me going on MP’s Pension provisions. We’re all in this together? NOT
[3] As we accept that cognitive and technical function deteriorates in your 60’s, do you really want to be operated on or anaesthetised by a 68 year old Consultant in the middle of the night after they have already worked a full day. Because that will be the reality
Report abuse
There’s not enough of them, to many people going to doctors for nothing, clogging up appointments for genuine people. However with this climate a lot more workers suffering with stress.
10 out of 10 for doctors. We can all moan about them but we all need them and ate grateful for them.
Report abuse
The headline needs re-translating into – ‘Doctors and their pathetic union realise- at long last – that the public do not support their greed’.
Report abuse
I think the GP’s are intelligent enough to realise that in the scheme of things they still have a good deal and that stiking makes no odds as to the outcome. When has a strike ever produced the desired outcome?
Report abuse
Sunday Politics in the West had a bloke on saying that Doctors simply wanted fairness…that Civil Servants should pay more for their pensions also….that was it!
What a random reason to strike?!
GP’s are basically private sector anyway and they will still get a basic pension of around £68,000…not to be sniffed at!!
Report abuse
They are always on strike,If I ring my local surgery its always at least a week for an appointment.
Report abuse
So doctors were blessed by being born with intelligence, which they put to good use when they studied medicine in the nation’s colleges and universities until that they became highly valued – and highly paid – members of society. but so did the architects that gave us our hospitals, the engineers that gave us everything from scanning equipment to artificial organs and prosthetics, the scientists who research and deliver an unending supply of new life=saving drugs. They are all working with equal vigour and commitment to save lives, except that the former group – the (BMA) doctors -demand the right to be afforded a somewhat privileged and saintly status, separate from all others who must bear their fair share of financial restraint during these very difficult times. Many would say it demonstrates the character and judgement of the individuals involved, for the ‘contribution’ expected of them is insignificant to that being borne by so many of their patients.
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Posted in 
Tags: 
