Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Why junior doctors are so angry with Jeremy Hunt, by a junior doctor

Rich Bowman is 27 and works 60 hours a week - yet says he has been branded 'overpaid' and 'lacking vocation'

Victoria Richards
Thursday 11 February 2016 09:47 EST
Comments
Junior doctors picket outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London
Junior doctors picket outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London (EPA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

As the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced that he would be unilaterally imposing a new contract on junior doctors without their agreement, one medic working at the biggest teaching hospital in Europe has revealed what it's really like on the frontline of the NHS.

Rich Bowman, 27, has detailed in an emotional Facebook post the extraordinary work carried out by thousands of junior doctors every day - and the enormous pressure they face, despite grueling conditions.

He works 60 hours a week in an NHS hospital in Birmingam, and says that for the 48 hours he is actually paid for, he earns £18/hour.

Yet, he says, the message being given by the British Government is that he has "no transferable skills", is "overpaid", "lacks vocation" and "must work harder".

He writes: "Last night I was the sole doctor on site caring for over 100 patients who were acutely unwell with complications from their cancer.

"Some couldn't breathe, some were fighting overwhelming infections with literally no immune system, one had bleeding in their head, one had a blockage in their bowels.

"If I made a mistake because I was tired, any one of these patients could've died.

Last night I was the sole doctor on site caring for over 100 patients who were acutely unwell with complications from...

Posted by Rich Bowman on Thursday, 11 February 2016

"Every cancer patient in the south Birmingham region has a direct line to call for advice or help. 11 new unwell patients arrived and I assessed and treated them too.

"There was not a single manager in the whole hospital. Last night, I ran the oncology service for the whole south Birmingham region from inside the biggest teaching hospital in Europe.

"Apparently I have no transferable skills to find a different job.

"And then I stood on a picket line in the cold to save our NHS. But my shift wasn't during the strike, it was just what countless other junior doctors do everyday.

"I am 27 years old. I work 60 hours a week, for the 48 that I'm paid for, I earn £18/hour.

"Apparently I lack vocation, I'm overpaid and I need to work harder.

"Screw you Jeremy Hunt. We never asked for thanks. All we do is for our patients, how dare you try and turn them against us. All of this is your government's fault. Well you've picked a fight with the wrong crowd.

"Go on, announce imposition, and just see what the most resilient, driven, passionate, intelligent group of people in Britain do next. Bring it on."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in