I don't want your sympathy, and for clarity I'm one of the ones who voted no to striking. Like I said, bugger the pensions- I accept we're screwed as a country and we'll have to pay more- but if you ignore what really pisses off all healthcare workers then you're going to build up resentment. I'm saying that you need to handle all public and private sector workers with a bit of humanity and offer them some goodwill if the country hasn't got money to give them instead. That's the same for consultant surgeons or street sweepers.

All NHS medical staff have my full support, if I fall ill I want fully motivated well rewarded people opening up my guts thanks very much. As for the Tories wanting to cut and tack employment conditions of these people ------------------------------------------------------------------------------and breathe. Cut the bloody overseas aid for a start instead of abusing peoples pay and pensions.

I'll try to not rise to this in an aggressive manner.

The bottom line is we are very disillusioned for all the reasons listed by blearyeyedboy above. We have the power to protect ourselves and are going to do so, we do not have to "button it".

It is actually in the nations best interests, we cost a lot less than many other things. The knock on effects of a few years of poor recruitment and increased drop out rates would cause decades of problems and thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Still bitter a doc stopped you getting into the Astronaut programme I see.

Lots of people have lots of reasons to be disillusioned at work, why are medical doctors any different?

Are the NHS going to make you all redundant and out source all of the work to the Chinese or an Indian call centre?

Are you having to meet increasingly stringent local legislation then compete on price on the world market?

If you don't like it, hand your notice in and find something else.

But it's not like you are hard up or have no prospects. You are all highly qualified, professional chaps and chapesses with skills which are very much in demand and portable. You can, and will, do well in life with or without government pension schemes etc.

You have the knowledge, intelligence and skills to get on.

Just go ahead and do that and don't inconvenience those who are dependent on you.

What happened?

I responded to a post that came after mine which has now disappeared!

Making this less personal and less about pensions, it's in the interests of any big organisation to make sure it doesn't have a problem with recruitment and retention. Honda is a good example- when there wasn't enough work to go around it helped find part time jobs and training for people who (for example) wanted to do some building work part time as well as part time work for Honda. Honda knows that it won't have to retrain a whole load of people from scratch if trade picks up and they need to build more cars again.

My point is that if you don't have a lot of money in the kitty, find other way of looking after people so they don't wander off into alternative careers. That means the NHS in 20 years will still have trained, experienced staff. Otherwise you'll have to spend money retraining people again that might be better spent on actual medical care. By all means increase pensions in line with what other people are having to pay but find ways of lessening the blow in other ways that don't cost a lot of money but maintains goodwill.

Like I said, some hot meals and coffee on call would be a very good start.

Already happens with hip replacements, and could do with most non-A&E stuff.

The middle class for too long have thought outsourcing is 'below them' and only applies to the working class. Sooner or later theyre going to find out their jobs are just as vunerable as the call centre worker's.

Apparently they threatened strike action in the 70s as well - so not really the first time.

Are accountants the only profession which has NEVER threatened strike action - ever?

Yes it is quite telling. It says you think you can yet again negotiate a position so that inflation and the general unsustainable rise in public spending don't affect you. Just be grateful you have a good employment. Most gp's are extremely average anyway, and exist only to keep the underclass away from hospital. It's the same people who turn up every day, the good renumeration is hush money for dealing with the unwashed abusive dregs of society. It's not a job I would relish, but there is No way that future public sector pension commitments can be met, it needs action now, don't cut your nose off, there's a good fellow.