Rent paid by young doctors

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 12

Rent paid by young doctors

Sir, — I wish to add my views on the contentious subject of resident medical officers’ working conditions, originally raised by Dr Nichol. There is no argument with M. Coats’s assertion (November 24) that nurses work very hard, but this is not the point. Housemen and registrars can work up to 60 and even 80 hours a week, going frequently without sleep. They have no set time for meals, and are beck and call. There must be few groups of professionals who are expected to maintain exacting standards for such long hours. I can only imagine the outcry if Air New Zealand suddenly were to demand comparable performances from its airline pilots (for similar pay). Now we are told that resident doctors should no longer be allowed to have free meals on duty, and that rent for Hospital Board accommodation should be raised. I cannot help but be amazed. — Yours, etc., DAVID NICHOLLS, Resident medical offver. November 26, 1980.