Scarlett McNally: Renaming ȷunior doctors—to improve value, respect, and patient safety

Does the term “junior doctors” capture their true value? Historically, the term applied to fully qualified doctors working in officially approved training posts before becoming a GP or consultant. Now most of their time is spent on incredibly intense service provision rather than being focused on training. They still have exams to pay for, studying in their spare time. Many rotate between hospitals or surgeries, with long commutes at short notice.Some 62% of junior doctors are over 30, and 7.7% are over 40.1 Many have children, ageing parents, and mortgages. Doctors from ethnic minorities and female doctors are frequently mistaken for other staff or treated as though they’re more junior. Unlike my generation, after five years at medical school a typical doctor now may have £82 000 of student loan debt.2 The financial impossibility of the role has led to the recent junior doctors’ strikes. Our population is increasingly elderly…
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