GettyMore than 100,000 people have shared a doctor’s letter online criticising David Cameron’s 7-day NHS plan after Downing Street police refused to pass it on to the Prime Minister.
Doctor Janis Burns wrote the furious letter slamming the government’s latest plans for the NHS, referencing the frequent weekend shifts she and many others work, and how little pay many staff earn for their efforts.
In the witty and thought-provoking letter, 34-year-old Janis throws in a dig at Cameron for his “inflation busting pay rise”, before mocking the government’s apparent opinion that the NHS is not already a 24-hour service.
From low pay to anti-social and gruelling working hours, Burns doesn’t let up in her impressive 1,500 word rant.
Dear Mr Cameron, On Wednesday morning this week I returned to work at 0800. I worked the weekend in Intensive Care as…
Posted by Janis Burns on Saturday, July 18, 2015
Let’s hope Cameron and his Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt see this, because it should give them plenty to think about!
The letter comes as NHS staff have been flooding social media with posts and images under the hashtag #ImInWorkJeremy, pointing out to the Health Secretary how hard they are working.
The barrage of selfies came in response to Hunt’s comments that he was prepared to impose seven-day working on hospital consultants in England, saying there was a “Monday to Friday culture” in parts of the NHS.
6th shift this week in the Derriford ED. Damn these lazy doctors and their extravagant weekends. #ImInWorkJeremy pic.twitter.com/2rRPMRDPvg
— Sebastian Nixon (@sebastiannixon) July 18, 2015
#ImInWorkJeremy this weekend, last weekend, and next weekend pic.twitter.com/FD76irbFck
— Jenny Hartley (@dr_jennyhartley) July 18, 2015
#ImInWorkJeremy – have been all night. And the night before. And all of this week. Back tonight too! #NHScoasting pic.twitter.com/WwehQKk8OO
— Clovis Rau (@clovisrau) July 18, 2015
The start of another 1hr commute to a 12.5hr Saturday shift. Who says the NHS isn't 24/7? #ImInWorkJeremy #midwife pic.twitter.com/wfswFOh4l2
— Sarah Moir (@SarahAMoir) July 18, 2015
Finished night shift exhausted considered sleeping on loo @Jeremy_Hunt still tucked up in bed prob #ImInWorkJeremy pic.twitter.com/7WOxCV24bD
— Danielle (@daniellejade198) July 18, 2015
https://twitter.com/FaisalMajid3/status/622318810662633472
#ImInWorkJeremy I'm 5 weeks old and I know where my daddy would rather be. Instead he's looking after people. pic.twitter.com/eiyog8Or7B
— Rachel Clark (@RachAM) July 18, 2015
After the hashtag trended on Twitter on Saturday morning, Hunt responded on his own Twitter account thanking the doctors and nurses for all their hard work.
To drs on shift 2day: thx 4 ur hard work. Now we need 2 reflect that professionalism wth modern contract 2 make NHS safer!#ImInWorkJeremy
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 18, 2015
Probably too little, too late to be honest, Jezza…
