GP resigns from BMA over doctors strike
A GP who resigned from the British Medical Association over industrial action this week has spoken of his frustration.
Dr Phillip Pritchard, from the Culperhay Surgery in Wotton-under-Edge, left the BMA in protest over Thursday's action.
He said: "We were sent ballot papers and there were two questions – one was do you want to take action, which I said yes to, and the second was do you want to take strike action, which I didn't agree to.
"The pensions deal we're being offered is still a good deal. It was a very good deal, but now it's just a good deal.
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"I think it's immoral for us to strike when we have to face people who are having their pensions eroded in the private sector, when we are going to be a lot better off.
"I just felt that I had been misrepresented in this case. I have been a member of the BMA for a long time, and I've paid almost £500 a year to be a member, but I didn't agree with this action."
Comments
by dwesterm
Sunday, June 24 2012, 12:20AM
“I expect he will refuse any benefits that result from the action. I don't think so. Very loyal to resign from an organisation just because it doesn't please you for once!!! Childish and pathetic!! Sadly typical of GPs who have an exaggerated sense of their importance. They have a qualification in a subject which is very emotive but many others are equally well qualified in other fields.”
by dwesterm
Sunday, June 24 2012, 12:13AM
“Taken his bat and wickets home has he. Typical; you belong to a group but if it doesn't do exactly as you want you quit. Childish!!”
by Bonkim2003
Saturday, June 23 2012, 10:42AM
“Whilst acknowledging the sterling work that doctors do - I have had excellent service from my GP and GHS, the BMA has not been realistic in calling for industrial action - given that the medical profession have a good deal, the envy of the rest of the population.
What the medical profession has to bear in mind is that the NHS provides them stability and security of income and a firewall from wanton litigation which is the norm in countries where the medical profession is run as a business.
Regards the rest of the public service, this is grossly bloated and consumes a much larger share of the nation's GDP than warranted by its productivity or real tangible benefit to the public - it also attracts the bottom tier of managers and technical people - as there is no measure of performance or competence - yet their wages and pensions are far superior to those in the private sector who create the real wealth that pays for the rest. Comparisons with the health service ( an essential service) is therefore unproductive.”
by joholly
Saturday, June 23 2012, 7:35AM
“Philip, withdraw your resignation and continue to serve your patients well. Leaving the BMA simply puts you on a very small island.
I think the strike was a real mistake and the shift to a CARE scheme is simply a modern solution to a timebomb.
Thankfully due to the sterling work of the BMA (its members) - folk are living longer and healthier - so the more you focus on doing your job well the bigger the timebomb (rising pension liability). So in terms of pensions, doctors like the rest of us need to pay more now, receive less in the future and work for a longer term. The arguement that we agreed a deal a few years ago that is now being ignored doesn't hold water - the future cost of pension provision must be addressed today not tomorrow. The real tragedy is that public service pension payments were too low for too long when measured against the payouts being given now (the baby boomers feel they contibuted enough but clearly this only worked if they lived to 70 not beyond).”