• Question: is it a struggle being a junior doctor whether now or in the past?

    Asked by 936genk38 to Phil, Deborah, Charnelle, Ali, Adrian on 10 Nov 2017.
    • Photo: Deborah Draycott

      Deborah Draycott answered on 10 Nov 2017:

      I am not a doctor so can’t really answer this. However, from my perspective it has always seemed tough being a junior doctor – long unsocial hours and sometimes having little support. I think some things have definitely improved over the last 20 years, but I imagine that it is still pretty full on.

    • Photo: Philip Williams

      Philip Williams answered on 12 Nov 2017:

      It is a very tough job but there’s great teamwork and you’re always learning. It’s amazingly rewarding helping patients every day.

    • Photo: Adrian Taylor

      Adrian Taylor answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      Sorry not my field, but the GP trainees we have now are on very tight contracts and we are worried that when they get a practice job they will struggle as not worked at the same pace or hours as a trainee.

    • Photo: Ali Blatcher

      Ali Blatcher answered on 13 Nov 2017:

      i am a junior doctor and it is a struggle. as you may know, we all went on strike 2 years ago because of the long hard hours we all work and the pay doesnt reflect the responsibility we all hold. it is a hard job, and people should be prepared for that. on the plus side it is extremely rewarding at times and you get to connect with people in a way that you wouldnt get to in another job

Comments

  • Photo: Kit

    Kit commented on :

    It’s not always easy, but what is! I imagine you heard a bit about the new contract and disputes over the past few years, which have made the frustrating things about the job more visible to people. I think many things are better now than in the past, where there were fewer protections over working hours and safety. Doctors often worked over 100 hours a week with less support which was often dangerous. On the other hand they had free hospital accommodation, food and better social facilities than employers provide now. These days working hours are protected by the EU and other rules, there is better pastoral and career support at work.
    I think you hear more about the problems than the good things, and although it is sometimes a struggle for reasons outlined in lots of questions here, the nature of the job makes it worthwhile. The feeling you get when a patient thanks you for helping them makes the hard parts not matter!