Doctors in the United Kingdom have ceased to work and have gone on strike after a contract dispute with health secretary Jeremy Hunt. However, some trainee doctors have taken this chance to leave their post and instead of going on strike, went on vacation.
The strike could see almost 80 to 90 percent of all trainee doctors in the UK to go on strike. The strike may even involve other doctors, especially those still in the consultant level. This is detrimental as people who need to seek medical attention may not get what they need since the doctors are on strike. The strike may force the closure of various accidents and emergency wards, says Hunt.
Jeremy Hunt has tried to remedy the situation by offering a pay raise of 11 percent to doctors. Hunt "will persuade junior doctors to accept him scrapping the banding system, which dictates how much juniors are paid, depending on their responsibilities, hours worked and how often they are on call," according to The Guardian.
The case of the doctors on strike has taken a blow as photos have emerged of some of the junior doctors on strike "living luxurious lifestyles as they gallivant around the world," says the Daily Mail. Some of the doctors in the photos are even among the most vocal about their rejection of Hunt's proposition.
Dr. David Rouse was seen skiing and enjoying fancy meals in a number of the photos. He appeared on national television in the UK and complained about the new contract being offered to junior doctors. Another doctor involved in the controversial photos is Dr. Stuart Stewart of the Central Manchester University Hospital Foundation Trust. In his photos, he was seen sitting down on a beach with a glass of champagne and a helicopter. The photos and details of these escapades were posted on The Sun.
