Edinburgh Doctors to Sleep Rough?

First year doctors in Edinburgh could be forced into having a second home. In need of budgetary cuts, both Scottish and English NHS have opted to get rid of free accommodation for first year doctors. The NHS in Wales have decided to retain free housing for these employees. The breakaway was revealed the day before the British Medical Association’s annual representatives’ meeting in Edinburgh.

photo from http://flickr.com/photos/recurrence/6271033/sizes/s/

One doctor's found a des res at least...

What’s the Problem?

• Foundation Year One (FY1) Edinburgh doctors are on 4-month training rotations, which can have 12-hour shifts that can be at unsociable hours
• These Scottish healthcare professionals are often not told where their next rotation will be until very close to its start date, making arranging temporary Edinburgh housing difficult
• Edinburgh FY1s will only learn how much they can expect to be paid shortly before the post begins – with temporary housing in the capital to arrange, transport and possible student debts of £30,000 plus a mortgage and other expenses to cover this can cause a huge amount of stress.
• Transport costs (if commuting is possible) could be high – 100-mile round trips are possible; coupled with dangerously tired Edinburgh doctors driving, this could be unpalatable for wallets, public and ultimately, patients.

August 2008 is the first month that Edinburgh’s first year doctors will face the difficult decision: drive home after a 12-hour shift or get temporary housing for every 4-month rotation they work. Dr John Crippens, a blogging doctor, has an interesting discussion on this topic.

FY1 Edinburgh Doctors Sleep Rough

So what are the alternatives for Edinburgh's young doctors - to paying £400 for rooms that look like a cupboard with a bed? You could camp. You could try serviced Edinburgh apartments for short-term accommodation. Or you could swallow a bitter pill and pay £400 for whatever Edinburgh accommodation your employer provides you with.

Any other ideas or suggestions – what should Edinburgh’s doctors do? Are they really that badly treated?

• 21 Aug 2008
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