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Rapid response to:

Editorials

Problems with the new junior doctor contract

BMJ 2015; 351 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h5077 (Published 23 September 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;351:h5077

Rapid Response:

Junior Doctor Contract: Reply to Christoph Lees

I assume Christoph Lees’ second response of 27th September is his reply to the questions I posed. However, his response fails to answer the substantial point I raised but, instead, simply provides evidence to show migration of doctors from the east to the west, which, in any event, is not in dispute. Thus, there is little point in furnishing “further references”.

The failure to provide an adequate explanation for his premise ("influx of doctors from less developed countries to the UK is unlikely to be the solution") suggests that such belief is largely based on his altruism and/or other undisclosed factors. No doubt, he will know that, from its inception, the NHS has successfully relied on doctors from poorer nations; hence, particularly at times of crisis it would be the duty of any responsible government to recruit doctors irrespective of altruistic and/or anti-immigration arguments. Whilst the reaction of UK doctors to the threat of lower pay and longer hours [1] is entirely understandable, it would be rather foolish to expect that any reasonable government would restrict medical recruitment based on disproportionate and potentially unlawful arguments.

Finally, I agree with William Osmun (response: 27 Sep. 15) that “Doctors are workers just like everybody else”.

References
[1] http://www.theguardian.com/global/2015/sep/28/nhs-junior-doctors-forced-...

Competing interests: No competing interests

28 September 2015
Jay Ilangaratne
Founder
www.medical-journals.com
East Yorkshire