Patients’ lives will be put at risk if overworked doctors are forced to work until they are in their late 60s or early 70s.
That is the view of a senior Fife doctor, who told The Courier he expects the majority of the 1,000 or so hospital doctors and GPs in Fife to join a national wave of industrial action on Thursday in protest at changes to pension arrangements.
Dr Charles Saunders, chairman of the negotiating committee for the BMA in Fife, is a spokesman for Fife’s hospital doctors.
He said: “Worse than the pensions, the Government wants us to work until we are in our late 60s and early 70s. My colleagues and I have real concerns about consultants doing that.
“I wouldn’t fancy going under the knife in the wee small hours of the morning by a 70-year-old consultant. It’s a highly skilled job and even by their 50s many of my colleagues are starting to struggle with the demands of the hours.”
Thursday’s strike is the first time since 1975 that doctors have been involved in industrial action.
Dr Saunders said all hospital doctors in Fife would be in their place of work during the strike and would be prepared to respond to emergencies.Have you had treatment postponed because of the strike? If so, please contact us on 01382 575130 or email news@thecourier.co.ukHe expected ‘nominal’ doctors such as those working in A&E to be paid as normal and others to be paid depending how much emergency work they had to do.
He added: “We’ve had meetings with management, and broadly everyone is happy that emergency care will be covered. There are 9,000 NHS staff in Fife including 900-1,000 hospital doctors and GPs. I would expect the majority to join the industrial action.
“We appreciate this is the first strike for 40 years, and our action is not being taken lightly.”
He said there was a strong groundswell of support for industrial action and future strikes could not be ruled out.
Blairgowrie-based Dr Andrew Buist is depute chairman of the Scottish GP Committee, representing Scotland’s 4,000 GPs.
He told The Courier: “Patients should not have any concerns whatsoever. Doctors will provide emergency care which will be considered on a clinical basis. We do not expect any harm or threat to patient safety.
“Our figures suggest that in Tayside two-thirds of practices will be taking part. In Tayside, 46 practices will be taking some form of industrial action.”