Here’s a wild fact: junior doctors in the UK sometimes earn less per hour than a barista. You pay more for a fancy latte than for the person who diagnoses your rare rash.
One doctor recently calculated they make about £14.09 an hour. A Starbucks barista in London can make £13–15. So yes, your oncologist is on a par with your flat white maker. Ouch.
Why Now? The "Pay Restoration" Drama
Doctors haven’t had a proper pay rise in 15 years. Their real-terms salary has dropped by over 30% since 2008. That’s like buying a car in 2008, but now it’s a bicycle—and you still have to pay for petrol.
The British Medical Association (the doctors’ union) says they want "pay restoration." That’s a fancy way of saying: "Give us back the money inflation stole."
The government says it’s unaffordable. Doctors say the NHS is collapsing. And we, the patients, are just hoping no one needs a doctor during the voting period. Perfect timing, right?
