As the NHS faces yet another wave of industrial action, a junior doctor has stepped forward to explain why he and his colleagues are striking. Speaking anonymously, the doctor described the relentless pressure, stagnant wages, and deteriorating working conditions that have pushed healthcare workers to the brink.
'We Can't Go On Like This'
The doctor, who works in a busy NHS hospital, revealed that staff are routinely working 12-hour shifts without breaks, often covering multiple roles due to severe understaffing. "We're exhausted, both physically and mentally," he said. "Morale is at an all-time low."
Pay Erosion and Patient Safety
One of the key issues driving the strike is the steady erosion of junior doctors' pay in real terms. "After years of below-inflation pay rises, we're effectively earning 26% less than we did in 2008," the doctor explained. "Meanwhile, our workloads have skyrocketed."
He also raised concerns about patient safety, stating that overworked staff are more likely to make mistakes. "When you're running on empty, it's not a question of if errors will happen, but when."
Government Response Falls Short
Despite negotiations, the government's latest pay offer has been rejected by the British Medical Association (BMA), which argues it fails to address the scale of the problem. "This isn't just about money," the doctor stressed. "It's about valuing the workforce that keeps the NHS alive."
With no resolution in sight, the strikes are set to continue, leaving patients caught in the middle of an increasingly bitter dispute.
