Medical students and resident doctors are being ‘robbed’ by the Government, says DAUK’s GP co-lead. Dr Steve Taylor says they are paid 20% less in real terms than previous generations of doctors. Posting on social media, Dr Taylor said that doctors are paying ‘a lifetime of extra tax’ in the shape of student loans. They face poor job prospects and progression, and their pension is no longer of a gold standard, he added.
Student loan forgiveness
Now Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) is calling on the Government to address student loan forgiveness for resident doctors. Writing on the DAUK Substack, Dr Taylor warned that the student loan scandal was trapping graduates with an extra 9% income tax for up to 30 years. “This disproportionately affects medical graduates who have some of the biggest student loans for their five to six-year degrees,” he wrote. Dr Taylor highlighted comments by Dr Luke Craddock, which has had more than 2.2 million views on social media. Dr Craddock posted: “This is going to cost unimaginable amounts of money as my generation stops working past the £50k threshold.
Productivity nightmare
“Many will be reducing hours or refusing extra work. A productivity nightmare. “I’ve been working as a doctor for three years. My repayments don’t even cover the interest.” Dr Taylor blogged that student loan forgiveness would be a low-cost intervention for the Government in the short term. It would effectively act as a pay rise now, and in future earnings, he said, and has the support of the BMA. Dr Taylor commented: “Student loan forgiveness is a strategic investment in the NHS workforce.
Resident doctors
“Relieving this growing debt burden that saddles our student and resident doctors would keep doctors working, improve retention, and put money straight back into the economy. “We at DAUK would urge the Government to look at this issue as a matter of urgency.” Read Dr Taylor’s blog in full on the DAUK Substack, DAUK’s committee 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.