But I think there is a bit of a danger in taking that approach

There is a risk that because of who they are and the great job that they do that you automatically side with the doctors and automatically side against the Government when the truth is probably somewhere in between. Whilst I am sure they have genuine concerns over patient care, doctors will also look out for their own interests just as any of us would (and I don't blame them for that).

I do agree with the government that the NHS (in hospitals at least) needs to be full service, 7 days a week and if we are truly to move to that then its probably not financially sustainable to have everyone working weekend shifts getting paid overtime.

Hunt just seems to have gone about it all in a Gove/IDS type blunt, confrontational manner that has caused far more problems than necessary. It really shouldn't be that difficult to devise a system whereby hospitals are better staffed at weekends and doctors are paid fairly in return should it?

Posted By: Jim, Feb 11, 11:58:30