ENT/ Head & Neck surgeon based Berkshire . benign & malignant head and neck surgery, general adult and paediatric ENT. training and medical politics. Own views
The article selectively reflects history: pay for residents / juniors was really poor when in the late 90s with overtime attracting only 1/3 of normal. This was correct by the 2000 contract. To get 80% had to work 56hours per week. Base pay is vital not relying on overtime
Can @TheBMA feasibly still claim @BMAResidents doctors are underpaid?The case for industrial action in @NHSEngland is complicated, and perhaps undermined, by the way in which the union interprets the data, writes @TomHCalver https://t.co/xlda63pDPE
Medicine is a distinct & elite profession & I’m getting tired of people trying pretend that there’s a shortcut to the years of hard work it takes to become a doctor
Tiered rotas are nothing more than gaslighting patients into worse care
I’m glad it’s being called out publicly
Did these 1000 posts actually exists or have the government used the strikes as an excuse to get out of a mess or have they created a range of rota gaps by pulling these posts and trusts will now have to recruit?
The junior DRs are a disgrace going on strike over pay. Even more disgraceful @Keir_Starmer cancelling 1,00 training places for bew doctors. Who are the losers? The long suffering patients
This type of debate is not new and despite a lot of talk it remains reliant on doctors . If the need to reduce residents then have to accept how will a service run without consultants or SAS doctors- is the public ready for a 2 tier NHS .
In January I suggested that 'The NHS is too reliant on resident doctors' https://t.co/2334PDRtSr. Today we publish an interview with NHS England CEO Jim Mackey in which he tells us: 'We’ll reduce our reliance on resident doctors in response to strikes' https://t.co/OLObFRTNIb
A 3.5% pay uplift is a real terms pay cut for consultants in England. The role of consultant should be fully valued, including pay, hours worked and its complexity. We need to stand together to demand a better deal.
We are opening a ballot for industrial action on 11 May
I've been trying with the BMA research team to produce one graph to rule them all. Real terms pay with inflation indexed on the same graph. Look at the CPI dotted line, our pay, the average public sector worker, worker & our comparators. It's not pretty! ONS & NHS digital
How remarkably silly this article is!
I would argue the reverse - the attempt to move to a consultant-delivered, rather than the historical consultant-led, system is the CAUSE of many of the problems we see with the NHS.
The big experiment died out because:
1/
Can this be extrapolated to surgery? Should there be more encouragement to train across the breadth of a specialty and then subspecialise much later (ST7 or 8) ?
A massive new study on peak performance included 34,000 international top performers: Nobel laureates, renowned classical music composers, Olympic champs, and the world’s best chess players. It shows early specialization is a trap, and the road to greatness is long and varied.
The tedious repeat of 'The BMA blocked the set up of the NHS' is somewhat galling when the actual history is the BMA was calling for a national health service from the 1920s.
More than 1,500 members have already cast their vote – have you had your say?
For the first time, members can vote for our next President.
📩 You’ve now received a reminder email with your unique voting code. Vote today: https://t.co/nzr05xPaGX
Investment vital especially adequate theatre capacity for surgeons - for too many years theatre sessions reduced to accommodate allow consultant expansion .
Today we published the 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census Report.
Without urgent investment in theatres, staff and infrastructure, meeting waiting time targets will be near impossible.
Read more about the key findings and what we are calling for: https://t.co/sZIwPXuaRh
Vote for President 📣
For the first time, you choose who leads RCS England.
Meet the candidates nominated by College Council, explore their priorities & help shape the future of our College.
📩 Check your inbox for your voting link & cast your vote: https://t.co/K716ronSEx
Improving productivity requires adequate clinic space , operating theatres, equipment and beds . The lack of investment in these areas have stopped any attempt to improve productivity.
Just settle with the doctors.
That was common advice I received. Coming from an NHS family, I get the pressures doctors face.
But without reform, higher pay means higher taxes and no better outcomes.
I set out the reforms needed in @thetimes today 👇
https://t.co/vI1mgqnsz9
Be part of history – choose your President.
Voting is open for the RCS England President election, and for the first time, you decide who leads.
📩 Check your email inbox for your unique voting link and cast your vote today: https://t.co/rDZrmXpoFw
@AriReddy The level of independent specialist practice varies from country to country -many countries with shorter programmes are unable to practice at the level required to be a NHS Consultant.
I do agree that the UK training proramme does need complete reform
This year, for the first time, members will choose the next President of RCS England.
Explore candidate profiles now ahead of voting opening on 1 December 2025: https://t.co/TKQEEiULyL
🎉 Congratulations to Ms Fiona Eatock - the new BAETS president! 🎉
We’re excited for the next two years of your leadership and look forward to working together to shape the future of endocrine and thyroid surgery!
I’m genuinely proud to share something close to my heart.
Over the past few months, we’ve been working on a new video series called “Know Your Numbers” — a campaign designed to get people talking (and acting) about blood pressure.
As a GP, I’ve seen too many people only find out about their high blood pressure after something serious has already happened. The truth is, it’s often silent — and yet completely preventable with simple checks and small lifestyle changes.
These videos bring that message to life — through real stories, authentic conversations, and community voices that remind us all how powerful awareness can be.
🎥 You’ll see me and others sharing why this matters — not just as clinicians, but as people.
Because knowing your numbers really can save your life.
I’m so proud of the team that brought this to life and to everyone who shared their stories so openly.
If you haven’t already — please watch, share, and encourage someone you care about to check their blood pressure. It only takes two minutes.
👉 Check it. Change it. Control it.
It could save your life.
#KnowYourNumbers #ProudMoment #PublicHealth #PrimaryCare #BloodPressure #NHS #Prevention #CommunityHealth #DigitalHealth #TeamWork
https://t.co/V7mPm0iwk8
@NHSEngland@NHSDigital@CvdPrevent @Dochayter @FrimleyHC