Oxford junior doctors warn they are tempted to move abroad

Junior doctors across Oxfordshire started their three days of strike action in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

Members of the British Medical Association were on the picket line outside John Radcliffe Hospital and Churchill Hospital and expressed their solidarity with their striking colleagues across the country.
 

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Eamonn Faller- a junior doctor for six months- said doctors’ pay was “really poor” and many were very tempted to move abroad for better pay.

Junior doctors huddle together outside Churchill Hospital (Image: Ed Halford)

He said: “Pay in the NHS is really poor in comparison to other developed English speaking countries.

“I trained in Ireland and while the working conditions aren’t great there, the pay is about two times as good."

Mr Faller works in Oxford at Churchill Hospital and said around 95 per cent of his colleagues were on strike.

Mr Faller decided it was important to be on the picket line, as he was concerned the government was “undermining” the NHS.

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He explained: “I’m a bit concerned about the discourse surrounding the NHS from the UK Government at the moment.

“The undermining of the NHS is taking place, so it is difficult to be extremely hopeful.”

Matt Bilton- a junior doctor for three years and chair of the Thames Valley regional doctors- said doctors were in an “unsustainable situation” and the retention of NHS doctors was proving difficult.

Junior doctors outside the Churchill Hospital (Image: Ed Halford)

He said: “Junior doctors' pay has fallen 26 per cent in real terms since 2008 due to pay not keeping up with inflation and we don’t think doctors are worth a quarter less.

“We have reached a situation that is unsustainable in terms of the retention of doctors.

“At the moment, we are approximately 8,500 doctors short across the country.”

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Mr Bilton reiterated Mr Faller’s concerns and revealed many junior doctors were looking at alternative options such as moving to Australia and New Zealand.

He revealed: “Doctors are currently tempted by better pay and conditions abroad in places such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

“The only answer is going to be rectifying the pay erosion which doctors have faced.

“It is really a matter of retaining staff within the NHS so we can provide the kind of healthcare service people expect and need.”

Mr Bilton said the pandemic had been “extremely challenging for everyone” but healthcare staff had found it “particularly difficult”.

He said: “To see pay continue to be eroded by inflation has made it very difficult to continue in this kind of work.

“It feels like we are not valued at all.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has said he hugely values the hard work of junior doctors and wants "unions to come to the negotiating table" to enter formal talks.

Mr Barclay said: "It is incredibly disappointing the British Medical Association has declined my offer to enter formal pay negotiations on the condition strikes are paused."