srisky

Alex K - you speak from a unique perspective. 1. I don't expect you to divulge the details of your salary but how ?120k/y for 40y? A newly qualified Dr starts at ?22k and the NHS consultant salary peaks at ?94k after 7years. Are you including private work? As you know, only consultants do private work and this is optional, so if it feels like the public is being 'fleeced' then don't do any private work. You can always volunteer some of your time in countries that are not as well off as the UK/USA. 2. If people are going into the UK medical profession for money then they are fools. Yes the money is good in the end but the slog is long and you give a lot of your personal time. If it's money they want then they are better off becoming lawyers or accountant, who work very hard too but are renumerated far better and sooner. Also the government (past, present and no doubt future) are not continually messing with them and eroding morale. 3. Interesting suggestion re: starter package and capped salary. However, you may end up with a form of conscription to ensure there are enough people entering and staying within the profession. 4. Agree, various specialities have no long term committment to the patient. However,if every Dr/nurse wanting long continuity of care the no-one would want to become anaesthetists, intensivists, radiologists etc and then where would we be? They care for their patients in the immediacy of the situation. Agree, sympathy is not necessary. 5. Everyone that does something to help others, whether it is professionally or as a volunteer, does it because they get a 'rush' or 'gratification'. If it always felt crap then no-one would do it.

Thanks, Moos! Just to add... ....given the vacuous, celebrity-centric era we live in, I don't blame people for thinking plastic surgery is just boob jobs, tummy tucks etc. There is clearly an increasing demand for these procedures. However, plastic surgery also entails reconstructive surgery e.g following road traffic accidents, burns etc. Perhaps he is going make loads of money doing cosmetic surgey but this, in the main, is not paid for by the NHS. ....finally (I hope), did you ever wonder why there was a need for the A&E dept to hire someone to 'moonlight' for a shift? There is a shortfall of junior drs of varoius grades in numerous specialities around the country. To make up for the gaps in the rota and staff shortages these dept have to hire docs as locums. Locums usually have full-time jobs elsewhere and locum in their spare time, maybe to pay for an exam or to make up for a pay cut during research or maybeto buy an expensive car - and why not?

cases

SOrry DJKQ, I can't resist... Poppyluck - some of these 'low-life scum' come from terrible backgrounds and have not been able to break out of the vicious cycle. They can be challenging to manage in hospital and in the communituy. However, they should not be confused with those who on the weekend decide they want to go out on a binge drinking mission and start some fights just for kicks and expect everyone else to deal with the mess. Alex K - a medical degree takes 6 years, which is a lot longer than your average degree. Your starting salary as a junior doc (if you work 9am-5pm, 5 days a weeks) is ?22K. I don't think that's great renumeration for the intesity of the work or the responsibilty it entails. It takes a minimum of 8 years to reach consultant level. During these 8 years or more you have to take several exams, paid for out of your own pocket. You also have to attend numerous courses, often paid for our of your own pocket. These amount to several thousand pounds. YOu have to carry out audits and research in your own time (ie. no study leave). Increasingly, junior doctors have to undertake an MD or PhD, which meanes up to 3 years out of training with a substatial cut in salary. The funding for this is extremely competitive. The consultants you speak of frequently worked over 100h/wk as junior docs and not infrequently for over 24h straight with no rest. They now supervise the junior doctors and also work in the outpatients clinics and perform complex procedures. The unltimate responsibility for the patient falls to them. It's a vocation and many of them love their job but many have also left the profession or the country because of this. I know many would not want their children to enter the profession. University fees (another topic entirely) will not help matters.

judge

Teardrops - Womack and Womack

Golden Brown - The Stranglers

If I ruled the world - Nas

World in motion - New Order & 1990 England World Cup Squad

It's a man's world - James Brown

California - TuPac

Mr Blue Sky - ELO

I against I - Massive Attack & Mos Def

Equally, may provide false reassurance...sorry to put a downer but it may be better to seek advice from midwife/Dr if you think something's amiss rather than putting on the monitor and thinking all sounds fine. However, you may just want to use the monitor as 'fun' bit of kit to listen to your baby. Whatever you decide, good luck with it all!

Song 2 - Blur

Brendan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Chippy Minton Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Brendan - what do you mean by "professionals." > Is > > this white collar workers or would you include > the > > skilled working class? > > Sorry it probably not the correct choice of words. > What I meant was people who provide essential > services. Teachers, doctors, policemen etc. > > Civil engineers and chartered accountants can > strike all they like. Surely the right to strike should apply to all? It seems absurd to say that those that do 'essential services' are not allowed to fight for better pay and conditions through strike action if negotiations fail. Btw, this is not meant as an opinion on the specifics of the current strike action.

I believe Sofie Jacobs works as a doula and she is also a trained midwife. http://www.sofiejacobs.com/ I have not used her as a doula but myself and several others have attended her antenatal classes, which I know is not the same as having someone as a doula, but we have found her to be a lovely, supportive and non-judgemental person. Good luck with your search and rest of pregnancy/labour/motherhood - phew!

Salsaboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > F*ckwit Coalition

Riverboat Song - Ocean Colour Scene

Moondance - Van Morrison

Walk on by - Dionne Warwick

6 underground - Sneaker Pimps

Under pressure - Queen

Apparently you can but Meatloaf underwear - on the front it says 'I'd do anything for love' and on the back it says 'but I won't do that'...

Baby monitor is still flashing 27degC and has been since yesterday! Whatever the temp it definitely feels cooler so I'll continue to ignore it as before. Gussy - hope you and your electrical ware made it through the storm! Was the makeover any good? I often think they overdo it with patterned wallpaper on every wall! (sorry mod for digressing, again)