Being a medical student battling against the dwindling morale of our senior workforce is trying at the best of times.
Combine that with Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s remarks that junior doctors are ‘moaning minnies’ and ‘juvenile delinquents’ and it becomes downright insulting.
It certainly does nothing to bolster confidence in our future profession.
Recent political commentary and social media coverage have painted a bleak and often misleading image of doctors, particularly those early in their careers.
Belittled workforce
It is difficult to reconcile the public’s expectation of unwavering compassion with the ease with which the same workforce is publicly belittled.
As representatives of medical students and soon-to-be doctors, we are deeply concerned by public comments made by figures such as Mr Streeting that risk further erosion of public confidence.
While we recognise that recent developments – including UK graduate prioritisation for training posts and progress on pay – suggest that collective action is beginning to have an effect, a pressing question remains: how can the Health Secretary undo what has already been said?
For those of us lower down the chain, and the next cohort to inherit this rhetoric, the impact of his words has been hard-hitting.
Here are some reflections from members of the DAUK medical student committee.
Joshua Haria:
“Wes Streeting’s comments are damning to the medical profession and certainly do not help the public’s increasingly unfavourable view of doctors.
“It is saddening to see that doctors are not as respected as they once were, but obvious to me why so many doctors plan to emigrate.
“Even some of my medical student peers have decided they are going to leave the NHS due to the continued poor offers that the government has proposed.
“I am worried about joining the NHS workforce but I am hopeful that the situation may get better.”
Safira Taplin:
“As a medical student, comments dismissing the concerns of resident doctors make me anxious to join the workforce.
“I worry about joining a system where I will be undervalued and makes me question how sustainable a career in the NHS will be.”
Sami MacRae:
“As a medical student and aspiring future resident doctor, undoubtedly our patients should be the core focus.
Yet this does not negate the necessity of the resident doctor workforce needing to be supported, and so requires an improved relationship between politics and healthcare that is not currently present.”
Maya Machesney:
“In my final year of medical school, with friends already working tirelessly as junior doctors, Mr Streeting’s remarks could not be more insulting.
“They trivialise genuine concerns and make it harder for the public to see doctors as what they are: professionals trying to keep patients safe in an overstretched system.
“Ever resilient, the medical profession and healthcare workers will continue to work, deliver care and advocate for an NHS our patients deserve.”
Alyx Douglas:
“As someone who will soon be joining the resident doctor workforce, it is disheartening to hear tactless remarks aimed at them.
“It is equally unfortunate to see such resistance to cooperation or compromise.
“Patients benefit from the collaborative efforts of medics and politicians; the current standoff is unproductive and can’t continue.”
DAUK’s members are all volunteers. They campaign and speak in the media about issues facing doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.
