Emeritus Prof Christopher May

The Resident Doctors strike is under way & you'll have seen a lot of coverage, perhaps most obviously claiming that public support for the RDs is ebbing away.

Well, leaving the opinion polling issue to one side, here is Charlotte Tomlinson's view from the GP surgery. She is particularly critical of Keir Starmer's tactic of suspending training places for doctors.

(it might be better to read this than a lot of the online media commentary)

#ResidentDoctors #NHS #health

https://thehealthandhealingnarrative.com/2026/04/07/nhs-specialty-training-bottleneck/

Apr 7 at 5:18pmWeb
Show threadDusana MykolaApr 7
@ChrisMayLA6 Charlotte Tomlinson raises an important perspective from the frontline of patient care. While debates about public support will always fluctuate, the real concern should be the long-term impact on the healthcare system. Suspending training places risks worsening an already strained workforce, which ultimately affects patient access and quality of care. Rather than short-term tactics, what’s needed is a sustainable plan that supports both current doctors and the next generation.
Show threadJamie OsborneApr 7

@ChrisMayLA6

I’m usually pro-union, but leaned (albeit in a vague, uninformed way) towards thinking this union is somewhat ungrateful and more concerned with squeezing govt than looking out for their members.

However, when Starmer made this announcement to pull training spots he completely lost me. Now I think there’s some serious animosity between these two positions that I probably don’t understand. 🤷🏻‍♂️

But Starmer looking like he’s read Trump’s Art of the Bluster is not a good look.

Show threadverity, in a pantry near youApr 7
@ChrisMayLA6 ooh, thanks for sharing. I've been seeing a solid stream of anti-doctor sentiment on various social medias lately, which is... interesting.
Show threadOnly 9.6% backed ReformApr 7
@ChrisMayLA6 Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I doubt if it's wise to turn training places into a political lever.
Show threadSwiftApr 8
@ChrisMayLA6 thanks for sharing, that's a useful article for anyone who, like me, was beginning to believe the narrative that resident doctors were "going to far now" and that it was all about pay.
Show threadDavid PhdApr 8

@ChrisMayLA6 Starmer and Streeting were cutting training places even before the current threats against the strikers.

This from CLAPA last month where key plastic surgery training for cleft lip and palate is being cut

https://clapa.com/news-and-story/clapa-responds-to-cleft-surgery-training-cuts/

CLAPA responds to cleft surgery training cuts

CLAPA