It would never have occurred to us to strike

The photograph of the beanie-clad, placard-waving, slogan-shouting junior hospital doctors accompanying the article in a recent Hinckley Times brought into sharp contrast my own experience as a JHD, some 50 years ago.

Having qualified in 1965 I worked in a variety of hospitals in the Midlands, and in the five years until 1974 in the three main hospitals in Leicester. This was before the Medical School was established in Leicester and the staffing levels were much lower, the hours much longer and the pay very poor by any comparative standards. So much so that the British Medical Association (which we regarded as our “Professionals Body” rather than a “trade union”) introduced a reduced membership fee for JHDs, acknowledging that our pay was inadequate, and I recall writing to Tavistock House to say this was not the solution and they should negotiate a wage which would enable us to afford the full fee!

As one of only two paediatric registrars covering the children’s wards and neonatal units we were on duty on alternate nights and weekends in addition to our daytime commitment of working on the wards and out-patient clinics - sometimes including sessions at outlying clinics during our consultants’ annual leave.

It was extremely difficult to find the time, or the energy, to study for the post graduate exams necessary for career advancement. However, it would never have occurred to us that striking would ever become an acceptable route to improving our lot.

Since then conditions have improved enormously in terms of staffing levels, hours worked, pay, training provided and structured career pathways and opportunities.

The BMA has established a separate division for the Junior Hospital Doctors and has become increasingly militant and many would suggest left-wing in its outlook. It is difficult not to feel that a demand for a 35% pay rise is so unrealistic as to suggest their motive is more about destabilising the government at a time of fiscal stress rather than restoring purchasing power.

The doctors claim that they are taking their action to preserve the future of the NHS.

I cannot help feeling that a permanent legacy of their strike will be a loss of the historical regard and respect for the doctors and indeed the BMA itself.

Far from improving things in the NHS the cancelled appointments and delayed treatments will undoubtedly generate an increased backlog of unmet need which will take years to recoup - if ever.

A.Y., Burbage [MB., MRCP(UK)