Press Release: 30th May 2012
Release date: Immediate
Public will be horrified at gold-plated pensions that doctors say are not good enough
Commenting on the BMA ballot today in which doctors voted to take industrial action over the changes to their pensions, CEO of 2020health Julia Manning said:
“This is a massive own goal for doctors that tarnishes them all with a ‘greedy’ brush. Many of my friends in medicine will be horrified and embarrassed at the thought of their colleagues striking.
“This vote says that they are more concerned with pensions than patients and is a morally unjustifiable position. It ignores the global economic reality that countries have all been overspending and governments overpromising. The NHS pension pot will need billions more of tax-payers money if we do nothing now. Doctor’s pensions will still be one of the best in UK and striking will achieve nothing because there is no more money.
“By taking industrial action, many more people will be aware of just how generous their pension still is and all doctors will be seen as greedy and stingy as a result of their colleagues’ action. The public were aghast at the £26k welfare benefit cap – they will think even worse of doctors striking over a pension worth more that £50k a year.
“Doctors live longer than almost any other professional. They have to accept that we are all having to make changes, accept higher contributions and lower pensions.”
ENDS
Note to Editors
- For interviews, comment or further information please contact Julia Manning, 2020health Chief Executive, 07973 312358 or Julia@2020health.org
- 2020health.org is an independent, grass-roots, Think Tank passionate about creating a healthy society. We identify issues and bring informed people together to create these solutions. Please visit www.2020health.org for more information and full publications.
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