Who feels doctors are overpaid?

Voltar · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:44

Academics and teachers are underpaid too and extremely well qualified. No one complains about them being underpaid/overpaid.

Doctors have so much responsibility: make the wrong call and not only do you have to live with the consequences [imagine a cute little girl dying due to you making a mistake] and then the law suits.

They deserve much, much more.

JBuk · 19 Jul 2009 at 20:56

Voltar said:
Academics and teachers are underpaid too and extremely well qualified. No one complains about them being underpaid/overpaid.

Doctors have so much responsibility: make the wrong call and not only do you have to live with the consequences [imagine a cute little girl dying due to you making a mistake] and then the law suits.

They deserve much, much more.

How much more though? where do we find extra money to pay them?

£22k p.a. basic is a decent amount imo for a 1st year , people thinking of training to be a doctor must know what kind of wages they can expect , it's not like they are forced to do it, like every other job it has it's pros and cons

Voltar · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:01

I think either keep the same salary and make tax exemptions for the Doctors for a number of years.

Or bring the salaries into a more competitive scheme. More able doctors get higher salaries. Make the salaries similar to those of solicitors.

Dirkscooby · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:03

My wife is a cardiac specialist nurse. She doesnt get anywhere near what doctors get. She's got a first class degree, has to have constant training. She was telling me the other week.Her and a doctor was studying an ECG(fancy heart monitor) machine to get an idea of what medication to give the patient. He thought they should have given one type of medication..My wife studies ECG patterns she told me the medication he recommended would have killed the woman.Obviously he consulted with my wife and she told him.
I'mjustaying in a long winded fashion that nurses should have at least the potential to earn that much.

^TANK^ · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:07

No way are Doctors overpaid, there job is hardly a stroll in the park! Bad comparison but Football players are ridiculously overpaid for what they do.

MattandJet · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:07

Dirkscooby said:
My wife is a cardiac specialist nurse. She doesnt get anywhere near what doctors get. She's got a first class degree,.

You arent allowed to say that in this thread, to say you do not have a 5yr Medicine degree is frankly criminal, she therefore - as the rules decreed in this thread, deserves much, much less than a doctor.

(Joke: Yes she does deserve more)

frosty03 · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:23

Dirkscooby said:
My wife is a cardiac specialist nurse. She doesnt get anywhere near what doctors get. She's got a first class degree, has to have constant training. She was telling me the other week.Her and a doctor was studying an ECG(fancy heart monitor) machine to get an idea of what medication to give the patient. He thought they should have given one type of medication..My wife studies ECG patterns she told me the medication he recommended would have killed the woman.Obviously he consulted with my wife and she told him.
I'mjustaying in a long winded fashion that nurses should have at least the potential to earn that much.

That may be true. But ultimately, it is his signature on the prescription, and under the notes where the diagnosis of the ECG was made. So it would be HIM that the coroner would have "had a chat with". And also HIM that the patient (or family) would have sued. So unless she is prepared to take the responsibility of all of the above, then she shouldnt earn as much as that chap.

To add to the opinions above (and the juniors). In addition to the deductions from your post-tax wage, you'll need to pay for your exams, portfolios, courses, books etc (all not tax deductible). That'll come to a grand or so.

But by far the worst to come, is the "extra hours" you'll have to spend studying, so you can progress. This (for all those wondering) isnt optional. You HAVE to pass exams, you HAVE to progress, or you'll get chucked out, or not renewed.

Doctors not only have a high suicide rate, they have a high divorce rate, and a high substance misuse rate. With the GMC going into "witchunt mode" these days, i think the above will only get higher.

I get around · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:23

Expensive qualifications, hard work, long hours, legally at risk, seeing people die in their hands. Any doctor will tell you that sacrifices have to be made when you take the job.
So no, not overpaid, anyone who gets that level of qualification will get an awesome wage anyway.

wormwood · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:23

A lot of nurses are lazy and a lot of docters are useless in my experience having been in and out of hospitals with my dad when he has been ill. So much so that I have avoided the NHS like the plague. It seems to me that many people choose these professions to be seen to be doing something good rather than actually doing good.

Dirkscooby · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:23

lol.I wouldn't be upset if she got higher. At the moment, shes been qualified 7 years is a grade e and on around 25k. I know she still has some grades to go but even then I think her pay will top out at 40k. Thats if she decides she wants to go higher.

LordSplodge · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:23

SideWinder said:
They have to know a lot about 'making people better' including drugs, treatments, the biology side of things etc. Plus they save lifes. So no, i don't think they are overpaid.

AcidHell2 said:
Nope. Huge expensive qualifications. Risks, potential work hours. I think there pay is totally deserved.

Just silly jealous people out there.

Agreed. My GP is worth every penny and so is my consultant (and she earns a **** load)

Both keep me alive.

SexyGreyFox · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:24

MattandJet said:
What about other people that work hard at A Levels and do three years of a normal degree (i.e me in this instance)? Do we not deserve it?

So basically you're admitting you're wet behind the ears and you think you deserve a great wage because you went to Uni but you've done nothing of any significance in the real world.

What is your degree and did you save any lives along the way?

Dirkscooby · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:26

Actually if a doctor says to a nurse to administer an injection of a certain amount and the nurse goes ahead and administers that amount, and the patient dies then nurse would be in trouble.

LordSplodge · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:29

MattandJet said:
What about other people that work hard at A Levels and do three years of a normal degree (i.e me in this instance)? Do we not deserve it?

I think dmpoole has already stated the point but you are wet behind the ears and think you should be paid like a doctor because you did a few A Levels and a degree?

Come back when you have had a few years in the real world or finished medical school with a pass!

Dirkscooby · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:29

My wife says it's rare for a doctor to administer or give any drugs to a patient. The doctor decides on the dose, then the nurse has to check to see if he's(or she) has ordered the right amount, then the nuse gives the drug to the patient.

frosty03 · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:29

MattandJet said:
I've made no fault, I dont know why you assume people doing a medical qualification must, by default, work harder than other people, doing shorter non-medical degrees. I have to learn a lot including taxonomical names etc just as a medical student will need to learn large amounts of knowledge regarding accurate diagnosing, treatment etc.

True, but how often will you have to make a snap decision, often with some uncertainty, which may save or kill somebody?

To sign something, that may come and have you sued decades down the line?

It isnt how "hard" you work, but the amount of responsibility you take on. And the consequences of it.

LordSplodge · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:30

Dirkscooby said:
Actually if a doctor says to a nurse to administer an injection of a certain amount and the nurse goes ahead and administers that amount, and the patient dies then nurse would be in trouble.

Nurses are trained to administer certain drugs. Some must be administered by a doctor or under a doctors supervision.

mattheman · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:35

Doctors arnt worth the money, research doctors are worth much more, GP are useless what about RNLI they are worth much more why because they put there lives at risk to help others.

Wolf11 · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:36

Moses99p said:
Hi there,

I suppose doctors work extremely hard, in deeply difficult conditions, when in hospitals and so forth... but don't doctors in GP surgeries have a fairly easy life for rather a lot of money?

Mm best friend is a GP and it is quite staggering how hard she works...infact she hardly ever stops.I dont think its the sort of job you can just switch off from as you leave work(she is always thinking about her patients and worrying about ones that are seriously ill) .She tends to work from about 8-8.30 to 7 every day as there is so much paperwork and red tape to do..

So in my opionion they earn every penny .

Dirkscooby · 19 Jul 2009 at 21:40

probably depends on what ward, but on my wifes cardiac ward the nurses pretty much give all the drugs under no supervision.Thats what she is trained to do. I'm not knocking doctors I just think nurses should be paid more.