A junior doctor working in the NHS shared a breakdown of his payslip as the first joint strike by consultants and junior doctors in history gets underway.
The 'unprecedented' walkout today (20 September) sees both consultants and junior doctors operate on Christmas day levels of staffing only, as the pay dispute between the government and doctors continues to escalate.
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While emergency care will still be covered, services such as non-emergency operations and appointments are expected to be significantly disrupted as a result of the action.
NHS national medical director professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “The NHS has simply never seen this kind of industrial action in its history.
"This week’s first-ever joint action means almost all planned care will come to a stop, and hundreds of thousands of appointments will be postponed, which is incredibly difficult for patients and their families, and poses an enormous challenge for colleagues across the NHS."
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In the wake of the continuing walkouts, some NHS doctors have been sharing their payslips on social media to try and drive home why the strikes are so necessary.
Back in April - when junior doctors across England again swapped hospital appointments and patient check-ups for picket lines in a strike over pay - Dr Benjamin Janaway took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a breakdown of his take-home pay.
Explaining he's 'an ST5 junior doctor (registrar with 7 years NHS experience)', he outlined the pay included 'adjustment for 80 percent less than full time' and also accounts for 'enhanced rate on nights/weekends, additions'.
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According to the payslip, Dr Janaway earns £24.46 per hour basic rate, which, after all deductions, means he takes home £2,850 at the end of the month.
Dr Janaway clarified that while '£24 is more than average', so is all of the training and work, not to mention the huge responsibility of literally saving people's lives that goes into the profession.
"I am asking for a 35% increase in this pay to reflect the amount I would have earned 15 years ago. The work has gotten harder, but the pay reduced in real terms," he said.
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"You may say, 'we have all lost out', and I would agree. And we should not tolerate that as a public, this is not a 'bring the ladder up' scenario.
"I would hope that if the government admits to this and restores our pay, they would do the same for others."
People were outraged by the pay grade, as well as the job title, with one X user writing: "Utter disbelief that you’re called ‘junior doctors’! In addition to giving you a pay rise they also need to change your title."
Another said: "Y'all shouldn't have to pay taxes at that humiliating rate," with a third adding: "I think any type of doctor has the right to feel the way you do.
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"Your job is so important to everyone. There isn’t a single person in this country who would not need a doctor at some point. You deserve what you’re asking for and it’s sad that you’re all having to explain it."
However, another wrote: "£2,850 per month net is a huge amount of money in this country, when considering the average salary is 27k."
Junior doctors account for nearly half of medics across the NHS and can stretch from those fresh out of medical school to those with a decade of experience under their belt.
When the historic double walkout ends today, junior doctors will stage a full strike, with consultants then drafted out to provide cover for those on the picket lines.
Consultants and junior doctors are set to stage another joint walkout on 2, 3 and 4 October.
Chloe Rowland