Doctors are striking for a pay-rise, but better conditions are needed to make them feel valued. Key insights from New Zealand

TL;DR

Junior doctors in the UK are striking for better pay, but New Zealand shows that improved working conditions also help make doctors feel valued.

Contribution

The paper highlights New Zealand's practical working condition improvements that make doctors feel valued, contrasting with the UK.

Findings

Relief doctors in New Zealand help maintain proper staffing during absences.

NZ doctors receive 6 weeks of paid study leave, unlike in the UK.

Providing meals at work in NZ is a tangible way to show appreciation for doctors.

Abstract

Degradation of junior doctors pay has led to strikes in the UK. Improved pay is important, however to feel valued at work, doctors must have good conditions as well. The author describes how their experience working in New Zealand (NZ) highlighted several insights into how better working conditions make doctors feel more valued.

Three factors are discussed which improve doctors daily experience. Firstly, the use of ‘relief doctors’, who cover inevitable absences caused by sickness or holiday, allow maintenance of proper staffing levels. Secondly, NZ doctors get 6 weeks of paid study leave to prepare for exams, whereas in UK this does not exist. Lastly, in NZ meals are provided whilst at work, this is not the case in the UK.

NZ demonstrates appreciation for its doctors through real and tangible improvements to their working environment. In the UK, pay needs to be improved, but so do working conditions.