A hell of a lot of course. It can be difficult and demanding work,
often emotionally much less satisfying than daytime general practice,
and is probably more dangerous than daytime work for many practitioners.
But how much, taking into account all the relevant factors?
If someone could work only weekday evenings, no bank holidays, no
weekends, 48 hours per week (not actually possible locally), 43 weeks
per year, is gross remuneration (including everything) of 123,840
excessive (I think not) / reasonable / unreasonable / so little as to
amount to exploitation?
If someone elected to work permanent nights (midnight to 8am), 48
hours per week, 43 weeks per year, but including every bank holidays
with associated bonus payments, is gross remuneration (including
everything) of at least 171,040 excessive / reasonable / unreasonable
/ so little as to amount to exploitation (I think not)? Let's assume
for the purpose of this debate that nights are not quiet, but not
horrendously busy either, let's say 12 - 20 pt contacts per night,
with a chance to get an hour or so of sleep on many nights.
I know some will want to say that we're worth a million a year. I
know how the government has at times wanted to portray
GPs. Professional people have typically set their own fees and then
either been paid or not as people chose to use their services. I'd
like to think we have some sensible ideas about our own self-worth -
but what are those ideas?
Julian
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