The Thin End

In a major survey of frontline NHS doctors since the Coronavirus crisis began, over 16,000 UK doctors1 have responded to a BMA survey, answering questions on PPE provision, their well-being and drug shortages. The survey shows that overall, nearly half the doctors say they had to source their own Personal Protective Equipment, PPE,  for personal or departmental use, or they have relied upon donations. Breaking it down by profession, the majority, at 55%, are GPs with 38% being hospital doctors. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA Council Chair said: “In what is the biggest survey of frontline NHS staff during this crisis, thousands of doctors have told the BMA that they have had to personally buy PPE for themselves or their department or rely on donations. 55% of GPs told us they sourced their own PPE or relied on donations and 38% of hospital doctors." While it shows how resourceful doctors have been and how much support there has been from the general public in providing ...

With the persistent underfunding of the National Health Service,  crippling 'efficiency savings' and increased pressure on doctors, nurses and other health care workers, it is little surprise that the doctors in the UK have shifted in the political spectrum.  A new study finds that a once generally 'Conservative' profession has now become more leftwing. The survey published online in the  Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health  finds that British doctors are now mostly left-leaning and liberal minded...except for surgeons and high earners. UK doctors think Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), dubbed Brexit, will be very bad for the NHS. As a group, they are predominantly left-wing and liberal-minded. But high earners tend to lean more to the right of the political spectrum, while surgeons are twice as likely as other specialties to express right-wing views. When respondents rated their political beliefs on a scale of 0 (extremely lef...