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Serious questions for the new Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins. A Junior Doctor on £34k will have their pay increased by a paltry £20.40 a week. That will bring their salary upto £35,200.

So, this is the question the Health Secretary SHOULD BE asking....

How many NHS Junior Doctors will be deported when their visas expire because they no longer meet the £38k salary threshold DEMANDED by the new Home Secretary?

I've asked Atkins this question, but I'm not holding my breath for an answer anytime soon, if ever.

Instead, another government minister blames Labour for the crisis the Tories have incited, invited and refuse to address properly.

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It’s terrible isn’t it? I don’t think they care - they engage in politics as performance, to appeal to peoples’ most terrified, base instincts. They’re a horror show!

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I don't understand anything this government does. They are actively discouraging anybody from becoming a doctor. How do they think they will reach their, albeit ridiculous, manpower plans. And even private medicine needs doctors. We need an election now.

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Totally agree Clive!

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Unfortunately Starmer’s Labour will be no different. He and Streeting are open about their support for private health and are backed by health donors.

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Isn't it terrible Janet? We need to hold *all* politicians to account- not just the Conservatives!

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Will this government (sic) ever start to be honest? Doubtful imho. Thanks for keeping on trying to save our NHS Ju. Meanwhile - I hope you find time to enjoy Christmas, all the best.

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Thank you Rik - team effort. Luckily thousands of people are now speaking up - we just need to turn that into millions!

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I feel an apology is due to all your colleagues I didn't mention. I forgot you now have more help and was reminiscing back to days when you found time to reply personally to most notes I sent. "Millions" - let's make it happen!

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Well said Rik. Happy Christmas to all our doctors nurses therapists hospital and medical practice cleaners and anyone else who helps us when we are unwell.

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Agree with everything you say Julia. Doctors are sticking to save our NHS. The government wants to make money from it.

It’s the government that has serious questions to answer, not doctors. You only have to look at the debacle of the Covid enquiry to know who is on our side in the standoff between doctors and government.

Please keep fighting. We need you and we will support you 💙

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Sorry: Striking, not sticking.

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Yes I agree - the covid inquiry is so dreadful to watch isn’t it? And a lot of us suspected that all of this was going on! Thank you so much for your support Delia!

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The marketisation of health is the American way and the UK follows. Never thought I’d see the day.

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Hope we can avert this utter clanger. Talk about the British people punching themselves in the face at the polling booth! We could have been well on the way to having the NHS and our utilities back under public ownership. And as for genocide in Gaza: there’s no way the previous LOTO would have supported ANY of this.

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Someone on Twitter usefully translates doctors historic pay in terms of how many tins of beans. Very graphic.

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Yes I’ve seen this - it’s very effective at getting the message across!

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